Kimberly A. Gordon Biddle is the author of the new children's picture book As You Are: A Hope for Black Sons. She is an emeritus professor of child and adolescent development at Sacramento State, and she lives in Sacramento, California.
Q: You’ve said your son inspired you to write As You Are--can you say more about that?
A: I want to love and protect my son for all of his life, all of my life. I think all mothers want this for their children. My son is mixed race (Black, White, and Japanese). However, he looks Black and is treated as if he is Black. He experienced differential treatment, because he looks Black, at a young age.
I am a Developmentalist by training, I know Developmental Science. So, I know this starts young, around age 3. He was lucky in some ways. The treatment at 3 wasn't really bad. However, by 1st or 2nd grade it was unbearable.
I tried to teach him what to do and say. He would repeat over and over, I am not Samoan (or whatever ethnic group was chosen) I am Black, White, and Japanese. No, you cannot touch my hair.
This may seem small, but my biggest fear was and still is that he will be killed, because he looks Black. The world does not like Black males when they get older.
Q: How was the book’s title chosen, and what does it signify for you?
A: The story of the title is very interesting. When I was first writing the manuscript the title was "Love and Protect You Always, my Child." I was told that is too "on the nose." However, I kept it. I still think that is the main message. All parents want to love and protect their children forever.
My critique partners read my manuscript and would always get emotional while reading it. They would say something such as, "This is beautiful." Some people have tears while reading it. Others turn red in their face. With such responses, I knew this book was special.
I took the book to the ABLA Big Sur Children's Lit Conference in California. My mentor there was an ABLA agent. She changed the title to "Prayer for Black Sons." She did not decide to represent me, though. Anyway, the title stuck with the manuscript on its journey to becoming a final draft for publication.
The manuscript got me an agent, the fabulous Deborah Warren at East West Literary Agency. Deborah suggested a few changes and then put the book on submission. After some months, Magination Press/American Psychological Association gave me a contract for publication.
I worked with my editor, Kristin, who asked for some more changes, including the title. I suggested "As You Grow" and my original title "Love and Protect You Always, my Child."
Kristin and her boss, Kristine, changed it to the final title, "As You Are: A Hope for Black Sons." They wanted the title to be more inclusive, so prayer was changed to hope. As you grow was changed to as you are. This was Kristine's suggestion. To me, the title means accepting Black males as they are in all of their growth stages.
Q: What do you think David Wilkerson’s illustrations add to the book?
A: David's illustrations reflect the love, joy, and light of my words. His illustrations bring the book to life. He also expanded the marginalized groups. He includes a child in a wheelchair, a child with visual impairment, and a child with vitiligo. These children probably have similar experiences to Black males to some extent. However, Black males are still likely to be killed.
Q: What do you hope children (and adults) take away from As You Are?
A: My main message for children and adults is that all parents want to love and protect their children forever. However, this is not possible. The children go to places without their parents and the children grow up and become adults. For some children and parents, especially if the child is a black male, this is a concerning situation.
The backmatter gives the parents some clues about what is important in these situations, how to handle these situations, and actual words to give to the child to say in these situations. Most of all, it is important to have hope. Without the hope, you can become bitter and angry.
Q: What are you working on now?
A: I just got informal word from Magination Press that they like another one of my manuscripts. I hope it becomes a book. I am also in the draft and critique stage of a companion book to As You Are. I hope this also becomes a book. I love working with Magination Press.
Q: Anything else we should know?
A: Yes, As You Are: A Hope for Black Sons is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and at other Independent bookstores. Here is the url - 978-1433848872 . I appreciate purchases, reviews, and support.
I also write textbooks. I am working on my fourth textbook with two other authors. The tentative title of this textbook is God, the Developmental Scholar. I hope and pray it gets published. Thank you so much for having me on your blog. I really, really appreciate this opportunity.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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