Q&A with Songju Ma Daemicke

 

 

 

Songju Ma Daemicke is the author of the new children's picture book biography Grace Lee Boggs: Gardens of Hope. Her other books include Tu Youyou's Discovery. She lives in Arkansas. 

 

Q: How did you research activist Grace Lee Boggs (1915-2015)'s life, and what do you see as her legacy today?

 

A: There are a lot of primary resources about Grace Lee Boggs, including a documentary movie about her called American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs by director Grace Lee (no relation), interviews with Grace herself on YouTube, and books she authored and/or about her.

 

I immersed myself in Grace’s life and thoughts for two months and then revisited all resources countless times for revision details and illustrations.

 

Grace was a visionary thinker. Her philosophy remains sound and wise, especially at this challenging time. "The only way to survive is by taking care of one another" Isn’t that exactly what we need today?

 

Q: What do you think Lin’s illustrations add to the book?

 

A: Lin did a great job for illustrating our Grace Lee Boggs book. She not only brought the story to life, but her garden tone palette also added a bright and positive outlook and hope to this tale.

 

The first spread is my favorite. It is about Grace receiving a gift from her teacher, The Secret Garden, being the first book Grace ever owned. This book inspired Grace to dream about building her own secret garden to help people to heal.

 

I loved seeing a book and a teacher both having such a profound influence on a child. The illustration is gorgeous, dreamy, and hopeful. It is also peaceful and calming at the same time. I love it.

Q: The Kirkus Review of the book called it an “inspiring tale of a life dedicated to making better people in a better world.” What do you think of that description?

 

A: That is a perfect description for this book.

 

When Grace was asked, “What are revolutions about?” she answered: “They are about creating a new society in the places and spaces left vacant by the disintegration of the old; about evolving to a higher Humanity, not higher buildings; about Love of one another and of the Earth, not Hate; about Hope, not Despair; about saying YES to Life and NO to War; about becoming the change we want to see in the world.”

 

Grace’s words are so relevant today.  

 

She also said, “You cannot change any society unless you take responsibility for it, unless you see yourself as belonging to it and responsible for changing it.”

 

I hope young readers will get to know her, be inspired to be seeds for change, and continue Grace’s legacy and quest for a better and more just world.

 

--Interview with Deborah Kalb