Repping the Shy, Quiet Black Girls Who Love to Read
"I could have drawn these people to look like themselves, but instead I chose to draw a kid character dressing up as these famous people," Vashti Harrison told WNYC's cultural critic Rebecca Carroll about the latest in her series of books celebrating leaders in America and around the world, Exceptional Men in Black History. Harrison, who has a background in film and animation, said she wants the stories and images in her books to inspire its young readers. "I like the idea of dress-up. I like the idea of pretend. I want them to be able to see a little bit of themselves reflected in these people," she said.
Exceptional Black Men comes after Harrison's two previous books, Visionary Women Around the World and Bold Women in Black History, and includes illustrations and biographies of leaders both known and lesser-known, like astronaut Leland Melvin.
"Leland Melvin was not the first African-American man in space, but I thought it was important to share his story because he was inspired by Arthur Ashe," said Harrison. "I made room for people who were inspired, to show kids that you can take inspiration from these people and do something with it."
The series is also personally important to Harrison, who grew up loving books and reading even though she didn't see herself reflected in many of those books or other forms of media. "I never felt like I fit into a particular category or version of blackness," she said. "I'd watch a lot of shows and read books, and there was often this kind of bold, sassy, funny black girl." Through her books, Harrison can now change that. "I feel great that I get to showcase that some of us are shy and like to read books, and spend quiet time in the corner."
