New Biographies for Kids About Trailblazing Women of Color – Women’s History Month

Publishing just in time for Women’s History Month (March)  National Geographic Kids Books is debuting three new biographies that feature three game-changing, inspirational women of color who have made an indelible mark on the world.

Speak Up, Speak Out! The Extraordinary Life of Fighting Shirley Chisholm, by Coretta Scott King Honor winner Tonya Bolden with a forward by voting rights activist and current Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, is a middle grade/middle school title that is already receiving rave early reviews.  A daughter of immigrants, Shirley Chisholm’s story is remarkable — she battled racism and sexism, broke barriers and made history.  Shirley boldly spoke up for what was right and changed the political landscape by becoming the first Black woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, followed by a historic run for President.  And while the presidential campaign trail in 1972 did not end in victory, Shirley Chisholm shows us how you can make change happen when you speak up and speak out.
 
And….
 
This winter, the critically acclaimed National Geographic Readers series introduces the youngest readers to two modern-day women who, like Shirley Chisholm, are also political pioneers.   National Geographic Readers: Kamala Harris and National Geographic Readers: Stacey Abrams are both fully illustrated Level 2 readers penned by African American writers whose age-appropriate text bring these women — and their accomplishments — to life, helping the youngest of readers better understand who these headline makers are.  

    

 
 

National Geographic Readers: Kamala Harris (L2) by Tonya K. Grant  (National Geographic Kids Books, ages 5-8, Jan 2022, PB $4.99) Explore one of the most powerful and highest-ranking female figures in American history with this biography of Vice President Kamala Harris in this Level 2 reader.  On January 20, 2021, Kamala Harris made history. That day, she became the first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected as Vice President of the United States. Young readers will learn about Harris’s childhood, her early career, and her journey that led to winning the vice presidency. This early reader also explores how Harris devoted her life to helping others, from serving as the Attorney General of California, to being elected as a U.S. Senator, to working alongside President Joe Biden on the campaign trail and in the White House.

About the Author: Tonya K. Grant is an elementary school librarian and an active member of the #BlackCreatorsinKidLit community. She is committed to promoting reading and strives to inspire all children to read and see themselves in books. She lives in McDonough, Georgia with her husband and two sons. Follow her on Twitter – @TKGrant1

Vice President Kamala Harris inspires in First Trailer for ‘VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS: CHASE THE DREAM’

Legacy Distribution is proud to present Vice President Kamala Harris: Chase The Dream, a revealing feature-length biography that traces the tenacious and trailblazing prosecutor from Oakland, California, to the White House.
Executive Produced by Dana Webber (Michelle Obama: Life After The White House) and Brian Aebech, this new documentary brings to light the pivotal events in Harris’ life which fueled her journey to the highest-ranking office of any female in U.S. history.
Featured Photo:  USNews.com
Vice President Kamala Harris: Chase The Dream is now available on Amazon Prime. Link Here.
Chase The Dream captures the issues, the debates, the political deftness, and the campaign-winning smile, which helped lead Kamala Harris to the White House. On January 21, 2021, at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, Kamala Harris took her place in history, not only realizing one of her dreams, but inspiring generations ahead to chase theirs.

BGL Belted Caped Dress: Rep. Stacey Plaskett Showed Up For Loyalty, Honesty, and Power

Yesterday, Rep. Stacey Plaskett was articulate and well-spoken.  But, there was one distinction that stunned audiences; her BGL Belted Caped Dress.

She appeared during the Impeachment Proceedings wearing a beautiful, professional look; strand of pearls, caped dress, and nude pumps. 

How does all of this relate to us?  Congresswoman Stacey Plaskett did what we would like to say on social media, showed up!  The dress she was seen wearing complimented her body shape and skin tone. 

 
Kimberly West Agency

When I work with personal styling (or shopping) clients we sit down and perform a color analysis, discuss hairstyles, make-up application, and wardrobe building

Most importantly, we talk about the importance of creating a personal style and what does it communicate. 

Rep. Stacey Plaskett’s style demonstrated loyalty, honesty, and power!

Twitter followers tweeted commentary and the masses have spoken!  To purchase your own Blue Caped Dress click here:  Neiman Marcus

Inauguration Day 2021 White House Style: A Whole Movement

The hair, those masks, bold accessories, and tone on tone looks was an entire movement!  Inauguration Day 2021 did not disappoint despite the circumstances. We stood by to witness several firsts. Madam Vice President Kamala Harris became the first African-American and South Asian woman in office, and a member of the first African-American sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Everyone showed up to view this monumental event but the tables quickly turned as the Former First Lady Michelle Obama stunned everyone with her gorgeous hair, jumpsuit, and statement belt.

Photo Credit:  @thestylejournal Instagram

Meanwhile, women on social media participated in a phenomenon by wearing a strand of pearls and classic, Chuck Taylor sneakers. It was amazing to see everyone support of this nation-wide, historic moment!

First Lady Jill Biden was a class act wearing a tweed coat, coordinating gloves, and handbag from designer Christopher John Rogers.

Yesterday was a fashionable moment that left a mark on the hearts of those across America!

Join the conversation tomorrow via Instagram Live during the new video series: Lunch with Kim. Instagram @kwest1908

GLOBAL FASHION AND BEAUTY FOUNDER RIHANNA AND RENOWNED ARTIST LORNA SIMPSON COLLABORATE FOR ESSENCE’S JANUARY+FEBRUARY 2021: THE ISSUE CELEBRATES VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT KAMALA HARRIS’ HISTORIC WIN

ESSENCE, the leading media, technology and commerce company serving Black women, kicks off 2021 with a stunning January + February cover art exclusive. Legendary artist Lorna Simpson collaborates with global fashion and beauty founder Robyn Rihanna Fenty (who recently launched Fenty Skin globally in stores in the U.S. and the U.K.) to reinterpret the narrative of modern-day beauty in the gorgeous photographic cover collage, Of Earth & Sky, and in images comprising a 12-page portfolio feature inside the January + February issue. Over the past 15 years of her acclaimed three-decade career, Simpson has created collages that recontextualize images of Black women from vintage pages of Ebony and Jet magazines. Like all of Simpson’s celebrated works, these original pieces are more than what meets the eye.

Simpson channels Rihanna as her muse throughout the spectacular artistic rendering—reimagining the artist in a way that has neverbeenseen before. Rihanna looks ethereal in designer piecesincluding from her signature Savage X Fenty line as well as Prada, Givenchy, Hood by Air, Thelma West, Rick Owens and more.Simpson states:“…I needed to create images of Rihanna to place within the environments of source materials from my archive. For the project to have the same kind of dramatic visual intensity as my collage work to date, I had to consider the atmosphere and lighting of specific source materials before arriving to set. Knowing Rihanna’s charisma and commanding presence, my effort was then to be as present and prepared as possible to capture her exquisite performance for the camera…”

The package also features the piece, Anthems of Possibility, written by Simpson’s daughter, writer and actor Zora Simpson Casebere. She weighs in on how Rihanna helped shape her womanhood at an early age and how serving as a stand-in model on set for her mother was a full-circle moment. She muses:“…At 13, I was deeply grateful that at a formative time in my life, it was Rihanna’s voice and art that became my portals to so many questions about sexuality, sexual exploration and sexual autonomy. Now, on set, I assisted my mother as a model as she explored how she might later place Rihanna within the visual contexts she’d selected from vintage Ebony magazines, old Associated Press photographs and 19th-century lithographs of mineral specimens. When Rihanna arrived at the set—my first time seeing her in real life—I was mesmerized. She was the very definition of grace, charisma and influence. Wearing a magnificent Maximilian black headdress, she requested the song ‘Thick’ by DJ Chose, then met the camera with power and possibility—power in how she moved her body through space, and possibility in how she dismantled and moved beyond institutional boundaries…”

The gorgeous issue will also pay homage to Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris’ historic win with reflections by five influential Black women: Donna Brazile, Leah Daughtry, Karen Finney, Star Jones and Minyon Moore. In addition, the issue features an interview with Barack Obama talking about his new book and journey as the nation’s first Black president. Plus, iconic actress Cicely Tyson shares an eye-opening excerpt from her new memoir.

For more on this issue, visit ESSENCE.com or pick up the January + February 2021 issue on newsstands next week. (Photographic Collages, Lorna Simpson)

Let’s Chat: Madam Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris and Vogue Cover

If you haven’t seen the recent cover of the Vogue digital issue featuring Madam Vice President-elect Kamala Harris then you’re in for a special treat!

This was the first cover released and has sparked controversial reviews.  Some readers adore the feature, showcasing the Madam VP as relatable, down to earth, and truly for the people of the United States.

Others, would’ve preferred to have seen her styled in a designer gown and no sneakers, grazing the cover like a woman of power!

Vogue critics have even gone as far to say that she did not receive the same level of prestige as the previous covers and argue that it is disrespectful.

Either way, we must not take away from the fact that Madam Vice President-elect Kamala Harris has blazed a new trail that will be left in history books!

It’s stated in the article that set designer Julia Wagner selected the salmon pink and apple green brocade backdrop to pay homage to her beloved sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. 

What are your thoughts of the Vogue Kamala Harris cover?  Share them in the comments section or on the SLF Facebook page.