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Addressing Police Brutality With Youth: A Book Review on Momma, Did You Hear the News?

Ok, so where do I begin with the shortest, yet heaviest book I’ve ever read? Let’s begin with a brief synopsis.  Momma, Did You Hear the News is a children’s book about a ten year old boy, Avery, who has become frantic after hearing and watching stories on the news about the murders of unarmed Black men by police. Continue reading “Addressing Police Brutality With Youth: A Book Review on Momma, Did You Hear the News?”

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Getting BLACK Into School: 20+ Melanated School Products & 6 Give Aways!

It’s August, ya’ll, which means many of you are getting ready to stock up your classrooms with new supplies or fill your kids’ closets with new school gear.  For those of us that are of the African Diaspora, finding everyday educational supplies and materials that reflect the outer and inner cultural beings of our melanted children can be a daunting and emotionally frustrating task. Trust me–I know first hand, which is why I created My Reflection Matters (MRM) in the first place.   Continue reading “Getting BLACK Into School: 20+ Melanated School Products & 6 Give Aways!”

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A Seat at the Table: Board Gaming Is For Us Too

Why are our Black and Latinx youth so addicted to their screens? It’s not only the TV screens, but also their ipods, androids, iphones, ipads, you name it! They love playing games, but they limit themselves to video games creating more social isolation than we are used to. In an article published by “TheGrio,” the author reminds us, “Studies indicate Blacks, Hispanics and those in lower socioeconomic groups play, spend more time, and buy more video games than other groups. According to The Kaiser Family Foundation, African American youth between the ages of 8 and 18 play games 30 minutes more per day than White youth, while Hispanics play an average of 10 minutes more”. 

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14 Books Celebrating Black & Brown Papas

Home made gifts are the best, but when you aren’t crafty of don’t have the time, books are right up there with them!  So, if you and the kiddies are still struggling what to get papa for father’s day, don’t worry–I got you covered! Peep these fourteen picture books celebrating fathers of color that are perfect for child and daddy to snuggle up to as they read them together!   (There’s nothing like watching my kids curl up on my husband’s lap to read a good book!)  Continue reading “14 Books Celebrating Black & Brown Papas”

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What If All the Dolls on the Toy Shelf Were Black? 15 Doll Companies On a Mission to Dismantle the Status Quo

In the recent May issue of Oprah’s O Magazine, a fantastic feature titled, “Let’s Talk About Race” (Which happens to be the exact same title I came up with a decade ago for an educator’s workshop I developed, but I degress…) presented a series of images depicting role reversals of stereotypical scenes of females in America. Continue reading “What If All the Dolls on the Toy Shelf Were Black? 15 Doll Companies On a Mission to Dismantle the Status Quo”

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Can Cultural Pageants Serve as Tools to Support Racial & Ethnic Identity Development or Do More Harm Than Good?

So, I’m not a big fan of pageants–beauty pageants in particular.  In fact, I was coerced by my theater teacher and some other folks to participate in one during my high school years for scholarship purposes, which I begrudgingly went along.  It was a local Miss town pageant that claimed, like many other beauty pageants, that it was more than a beauty pageant.  The truth is when the majority of your pageant’s segments focus on judging the outer appearances of contestants, in my book, it’s a beauty pageant.  And we all know what standard of beauty is being utilized to measure everyone up against in those spaces!

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NO DREAM DEFERRED: Why Black and Latino Families Are Choosing Homeschool

Several months ago, I had connected with author and homeschooling expert, Zakkiyya Chase, in a homeschooling group we belong to after seeing her post about a new book she had just published titled, NO DREAM DEFERRED: Why Black and Latino Families Are Choosing Homeschool.  I couldn’t believe my eyes–FINALLY, someone had written a book that laid out many of the core reasons my husband and I have chosen to not enroll our young children in a traditional school setting!!

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Fare of the Free Child Podcast: Interview with MRM Founder, Chemay

Check out my interview with the fabulous author, life coach, and unschooling guru Akilah S. Richards. I had a blast talking with Akilah and look forward to coming back on her show in the future!  I’ve shared Akilah’s work in the past, but in case you’ve missed it, check out her website and subscribe to her really informative podcasts that explore ways parents and caregivers can engage in the healthy liberation of their Black and Brown children.

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8 Books Reflecting Black & Latinx Scientific Brilliance

On Earth Day, yesterday, thousands of science supporters gathered across the country to march in protest against the anti-science policies of Trump.   In honor of this event, I’ve seen many posts and articles about important scientists and inventors who have made significant contributions to our society. My mind, however, kept asking…but where are all the Black & Latinx geniuses???

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