-in Reading Rainbow, I was able to meet Mr. LeVar Burton at a comicon years ago, before I was published. As we enter February, this Black History Month is very important. With all the books and curriculum being removed from our schools and other teachings this experience impacts me even more.

and though I wasn’t very good at singing then I sang the tune. After the conference he was so taken by me that he asked my teacher if he could met the girl who sang the song. That was my first introduction to an author. I got a photo and signed copy of his book. Although, I never got that shoutout-

Only a few people raised their hands, mine included. He called on me and my response was, “Follow the Drinking Gourd.” He said, correct, then proceeded to ask if I knew how it went. I remembered an episode of Reading Rainbow, and the teachers of my school who taught such curriculum-

-that was my first publication, would get me into a meet the author conference. There was Ashley Bryan who wrote and illustrated his book, African Tales, Uh-Huh; during the guest lecture he asked if anyone knew the rhythm the slaves used while attending their heroic escape from slaver/ slave states.