Page 15 - Florida Sentinel 8-20-21

Feature
Teacher’s Goal Is To Help Black Children With Self-Esteem Through Her Books
BY MONIQUE STAMPS Sentinel Staff Writer
Candis Perdue knew she wanted to author a book about self- esteem two years ago when her daughter didn’t want to play with any dolls that looked like her. She be- lieved the beauty was defined by non- black features like long, straight hair and lighter complexions. So, Perdue wrote her book, Pretty and Brown.
Her daughter asked her why she had to have puffy coiled hair. Per- due has found this attitude is perva- sive in the Black community.
“There are a lot of girls who check out in school when they feel like they’re not seen, not understood or invested in by school personnel. There are a lot of negative percep- tions of African-Americans, and the perception they receive is that it’s not a good thing to be Black,” says Ja- nine Jones, Director of the Univer- sity of Washington’s School Psychology Program.
After her daughter exhibited self- limiting behavior, Perdue began working with her and using positive affirmations. Using a Barbie with African features and African clothing, the doll became her daughter’s fa- vorite right away. She no longer com- pared hair and skin color, and fully embraced her dolls’ beauty.
Perdue adds, “I work in a Title 1 school, which means that I work with girls struggling to find their place. Es- pecially now with social injustice in the forefront.”
Perdue believes that if we do not attack the esteem values early, kids can become broken by the weight of society’s pressures and expectations. She wants to break these detrimental expectations, so they do not become generational.
Perdue says she experienced some of these issues as a child, despite being in advanced classes, she often felt she was not good enough. She
CANDIS PERDUE
... Author of Pretty and Brown children’s book.
learned to find her strengths and grow with them.
Now more than ever, Perdue feels her book is very important. ‘Being able to tap into their strengths at an early age is the key for young African American girls. The affirma- tions will last a lifetime.’ The book was written for elementary school aged girls.
By the end of the year, Perdue will have a version of the book for boys, titled Brilliant and Brown.
A book for teens will be arriving at bookstores in early 2022.
You can find the book at many lo- cations, including Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Books A Million, Target and Walmart.
Perdue lives with her two chil- dren in Tampa and teaches 3rd Grade.
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