This month’s featured author is Chana Ginelle Ewing, debut creator of An ABC of Equality. We asked Chana some questions about her process and give you a chance to sneak a peek at some illustrations from the book! Pre-order your copy of An ABC of Equality here.
What inspired you to create An ABC of Equality for young readers?
I was taking a closer look at how social concepts like race, gender and class impact young individuals. As an adult, I believe that it’s my responsibility (and the responsibility of adults everywhere) to examine and attack these messages early in a child’s development, allowing children opportunities to decide which concepts can help them form their identities. Having children form healthy identities early on versus undoing negative perspectives later is essential. From the moment children are born they are introduced to notions of identity and intersectionality, and I designed An ABC of Equality to be a healthy tool for children to utilize as they decide how they want to show up in the world. Each concept is meant to spark a conversation between parents and their young children, but with simple terminology and even easier definitions. Distilling down to what these ideas mean and how to relay them in a way that leaves room for layering and conversation was probably the hardest part.
How did you decide which topics were assigned to each letter? How did you work with illustrator Paulina Morgan to make sure specific ideas/concepts were conveyed in the illustrations?
There were some topics that I knew would be foundational and set us up to discuss others. I’m glad we began the book with Ability and covered the main thrust by the time we reach Difference and Equality. I loved Paulina’s process. She developed her own unique responses to the words and I gave feedback when I thought there could be room for more visual clarification.
What is the main message you want children and adults to take from An ABC of Equality?
The point of this book is to clarify common terms and the words that we throw around in society into the easiest way possible, so that we can all have a conversation about it. There are so many adults who benefit from having a tool like this to reference. I would like both parents and children to take away a better understanding of these social concepts that can be difficult for some to discuss. Adults still struggle around equality, intersectionality, equity. We’ve over-complicated things that are fairly easy to understand. I hope that it gives adults the opportunity to consider and unpack some of their own confusion, privileges, and prejudices.
What do you do when you’re not creating children’s books? How do your experiences as an entrepreneur inform the content of this book and how you share it?
I am the CEO and founder of Geenie, a self-development platform centering the unique personal and professional needs of Black women. As an entrepreneur and now writer, I found myself thinking about the target audience as I wrote. I’m considering the context around which children and caretakers will receive and read the book and how I can form partnerships to showcase the book.
What advice would you give to aspiring authors?
Find people who are also familiar with the publishing realm. Whether it be writing or even editing, that mentor-ship and support system can help you navigate all unfamiliar territory. With any endeavor you do, you need someone to support the vision and be able to help you drive your ideas forward.
About Chana Ewing
A storyteller, digital strategist and entrepreneur, Chana Ginelle Ewing is the founder and CEO at Geenie, a self-development platform supporting Black women. Chana’s interests lie at the intersection of innovation, women’s leadership and changemaking. She and her projects have been featured in blogs and online media properties including Blavity, ESSENCE, Forbes, MadameNoire, HerAgenda, Black Enterprise and UPTOWN. Chana serves on the Millennial Advisory Committee of The Andrew Goodman Foundation and the Young Professionals Committee of 651 ARTS. Visit Chana online here.