Andrea Davis Pinkney is the Editorial Director of Hyperion Books for Children, and Founding Editor of "Jump at the Sun." The "Jump at the Sun" imprint celebrates the experiences of the African-American community. Ms. Pinkney is an award-winning author of more than 15 children's books. These books reflect the lives, culture, heritage and achievements of African-Americans today and yesterday. Let it Shine is a Coretta Scott King Honor Book.
Q . You've written about Duke Ellington, Alvin Ailey, and Benjamin Banneker; African-American men who have made an impact on our American culture. How did you decide to write Let it Shine and how did you choose the ten black women profiled in the book?
"The picture book biographies I had written to date were all about men. I wanted to write a biography about a woman. The way that "Let it Shine was created was that Stephen Alcorn, the illustrator, wanted to collaborate on a book about African American women. My editor, Liz Van Doren, sent a letter to me stating that an artist she knew wanted to do portraits for a non-fiction book of African-American women. I thought to myself, if Stephen Alcorn is the illustrator Liz is referring to, I must write this book because I love and admire Stephen's work. As it turned out, the artist was Stephen Alcorn. When I embarked on the project, I wanted it to be the quintessential non-fiction book about black women.
On deciding which women to feature, my editor and I tried to choose someone from every era, starting with Sojourner Truth. We picked the freedom fighters we deemed most notable."
Q. What values or attributes did these women have that made them succeed in the face of cruelty, oppression and ignorance? How were they able to "speak out so fearlessly"?
"They were unflappable, often very spiritually centered people. How does anyone face adversity? With one's greatest internal power, everyone has it within herself. These women were able to access it and use it. Some had family support and some didn't. Sojourner Truth's father was backbone-strong. Her mother, like many women, was quiet-strong. Harriet Tubman came from strong parents. We all came from something. Dorothy Height was encouraged by her mother to keep her head high, when she was preparing to go to the state oratory contest. Despite the disrespect Dorothy faced when she arrived at the contest, despite that she was the only black participant and, that all the judges were white; she held fast to her mother's advice lift up your chin and you go!"
Q. Some of these women started out as slaves. How were they able to have the self-confidence and courage to accomplish their goals?
"Biddy Mason didn't really have parents. [As a slave child, she was bought and sold several times. At the age of 18,] she was given as a wedding gift, just a piece of property, to her owner's cousin. I think a lot of these women were frightened many times, but real courage is when you are feeling frightened but you take action. It is said, "Courage is fear that has said its prayers." Even though you're afraid, you act. As the only black contestant, looking around the room during the oratory contest, not seeing another black person, I'm sure Dorothy Height was afraid. I'm sure her knees were shaking under her dress. But she didn't back down. Rosa Parks, coming home from work, wanted a seat on the bus [and was tired of giving up her seat to white people]. She defied the bus driver and was arrested. I'm sure she was afraid in jail. But she didn't back down."
Q. What is the message young people can draw from the lives of the women featured in Let it Shine, Alvin Ailey , Benjamin Banneker and Duke Ellington?
"In the case of Duke Ellington and Alvin Ailey, I think the message is, 'Follow your dream.' Alvin Ailey grew up underprivileged and poor. His choice to become a dancer was not practical but he pursued it anyway. In the case of Duke Ellington, he grew up middle class and somewhat privileged. But again, to be a piano player was not practical yet he did it. It is also interesting to note that his mother enrolled him in piano lessons, but as a child he wasn't interested, and quit. He came back to it later and found his own way, his own style."
Q. Do you have one or two favorite "freedom fighters?" If so, who are they and why?
"I love them collectively. My editor and I call them 'our freedom fighters'; they are a chorus, a group of fine women who are my favorite women. But Sojourner Truth was so ahead of her time. Her fortitude, when she declared, "Ain't I a woman?" [at the 1852 women's rights convention in Ohio] is inspiring. No one had come in the week before with a speech; no one paved the way. She is an epic figure on our landscape. Each time I started to write a new story about a woman, it was a pleasure all over again. I would access that woman's strength and her power. Look at Fannie Lou Hamer, for example, going back [3 times] after failing the literacy test to vote, at the registrar's office. [Fannie Lou could only read and write her name. To prove herself literate, she was asked to explain the sixteenth section of the Constitution of Mississippi.] She didn't give up or say 'you got me, I give up.' She refused to be kept down by obstacles."
Q. In your books, fiction and non-fiction, what is the message you are trying to send kids in America today?
"I think the message is: You can do it . There are people and institutions and situations in your life, which will point to why you cannot do it. That is not the truth. All of the freedom fighters and others like Benjamin Banneker experienced that. But yes, the message is, you can do it."
Q. Is there more civil rights work to be done in America and if so, how can kids carry on the work of Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Dorothy Height, Fanny Lou Hamer and other civil rights workers?
Yes, there is more civil rights work to be done on a smaller scale. These heroes did not set out to be heroes. The way kids can promote freedom, equality, peace, love, and brotherhood is to start by practicing these virtues in 'your own backyard.' Don't accept mean behavior by either participating in it or being a recipient of it. Pity the person that puts you down. When people hurt you, it is a sad thing for them. When someone wrongs me I feel sorry for him or her because for some reason they are sad, so they have to inflict it on me. When somebody wrongs me, secretly in my heart, I wish him or her the best. I think about all the beauty and joy in my life and I wish that for that person.
Q. Does the institution of slavery in America still have lingering effects in America today?
Yes it does. As an African-American, I can reflect on slavery's impact. I can take Let it Shine and sit down with a child and say: 'Let me show you where you come from, what we as a people came out of, look at all the good that has come out of adversity and how we can draw on that for living our own lives.' Yes, the lingering effect is a positive effect."
Q. Is there anything else you would like to say about your writing?
I hope that the books that I write act as two things: one, that they act as a mirror so that some readers can see reflections of themselves. And two, for other readers, I hope that they offer a window. I hope that the story allows those who haven't had that experience to see in.
The above interview took place by telephone. We thank Ms. Pinkney for sharing her time with us. We highly recommend that you share her inspirational books with your family.
Maureen Byrne
December 18, 2001
