It All Started in Africa: A Grand New World of CHOICE Opportunities
Suzanne Bowman Williams provides a ride of many lifetimes toward a Grand New World of CHOICE opportunities! Her lyrical, rhyming picture book, It All Started in Africa, introduces young children to real-life, historic characters who dare to make wise courageous choices.
This career elementary school teacher, presents a journey that is designed to motivate children of all ages to seize their daily opportunities to make wise, courageous choices not only for their own benefit, but for that of their descendants.
This goal is illustrated in her 2021 book, It All Started in Africa, a unique narrative which is based on true events. Through this novel, young children gain an introductory understanding of Black History as they embark on a journey through generations of African Americans over the course of history. They will witness the life-changing choices made by the characters of those times. Choices that, even in the face of adversity, brought about positive results both then and even into the present day.
Suzanne, now living the freelance/retired life in Central Arizona with her husband/advisor, she enjoys presenting multicultural, motivational tales on the local radio station as well as in classrooms both in person and virtually. She also is actively engaged in a variety of creative projects, including the annual ""Grand Camp” with the grandkids. Besides crafting stories and studying family history, historic sites, cultures, and people, spending time with her family is what she considers her greatest blessing.
AJ: Why is it important to teach children in their youth to seize their opportunities?
SBW: It is my sincere belief that children in their youth must first be trained to recognize their opportunities to make wise, courageous, and bold choices for the benefit of themselves and their descendants. It is in this mindful recognition of these opportunities that the child is well positioned to make what I call wise, courageous, and bold choices.
It is widely known in educational circles that early childhood provides a fertile ground in which the seeds of learning can most readily take root. This does not mean that growth cannot occur as one ages. Many of us consider ourselves life-long learners. However, the sooner the learning begins, the better!
AJ: What advice would you give to parents to help children accomplish this goal?
SBW: Parents are powerful catalysts for the accomplishment of this goal! Parents and grandparents offer simple but strategic guidance through casual conversations. This can be done by reading stories and viewing media together. There's a critical choice - sometimes many critical choices in stories. During or after the story or program, ask children about the characters' choices. Which choices were wise and which were not wise. How might the outcome have been different if the choice was made to follow the wise way? This can also be done, tactfully of course, in daily activities as you and your child observe the choices of family members or people in the community.
AJ: Do you find children to be interested in their culture and history, Why or why not?
SBW: I believe most children are interested in their culture and history, especially now that there's a greater social awareness of the value of our various cultures. This awareness is finally being shared in print and broadcast media.
Those children who are not interested may have had the experiences of many people of my generation (the Baby Boomers). I never had a doll who looked like me until I was six years old. People who looked like me were not positively represented in the media, if they were represented at all. I believe that children will want to know more about their culture and history once they learn the facts. The facts that identify a powerful heritage. The facts that identify the many accomplishments of their people. Once they realize that these accomplishments were achieved in spite of tremendous obstacles and that their own ancestors faced those same obstacles, it is very likely that they will want to know more!
AJ: How does having a sense of pride in where you come from contribute to a child's growth?
SBW: Having a sense of pride in where they come from does contribute tremendously to children's growth and to their emotional, social, and mental health. Learning that the people who came before them succeeded, in spite of the many obstacles placed in their way is empowering. Furthermore, learning of the present day achievements of their people offers a sense of pride, hope, and encouragement. Perhaps you've heard a child declare, "If s/he can do that, I can too!"
AJ: What is one or two adversity/life changing event (s) and the positive results from African American history that is not talked about that every child should know?
SBW: Oh, there are so many adversity/life changing events that I'm learning about even now! If I were to choose one it would come from an experience that has happened to me while sharing my story in various schools. Many students I encounter are not aware that, at one time in parts of our country, it was illegal to teach a person of color to read or write. For this reason, I believe that every child should know that anti-literacy laws did exist HOWEVER, many people of color did not let the laws stop them from learning. In fact, many of them, in turn, taught others. Contrast that with the opportunity that is readily available to most children today for a free, public supported education. They need to know how blessed they are and what a valuable gift is theirs for the taking!
AJ: What is next for you as a writer?
SBW: I am very excited about my current project! It will be a middle grade companion to my 2021 book, It All Started in Africa, whose story was originally told to my fifth graders. By the time I wrote it, I was in my first and second grade teaching years and thus it became a picture book. My goal with this new work, An American Family's Journey, is to present a personal and cultural overview of African American history.
For more information, please visit:
https://suzannewilliamsauthor.com/
