“What’s Your Story?” is a guest post feature on BCBA’s blog. Indie/Self-Published authors are invited to write about their books, writing journey, creative process, inspiration, rewards and challenges of publishing, etc. They can go in whatever direction they choose. We are excited and grateful for their willingness to share, and we hope you enjoy Rosemond Sarpong Owens’s story. Go here for more WYS? posts.
My name is Rosemond Sarpong Owens. I am a Ghanaian-American diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice (DEIJ) practitioner and author. I have lived in the Midwestern United States for more than two decades. My formative years impacted my decision to be a DEIJ practitioner and my compulsion to write. As a child, I suffered from many insecurities about my skin color, facial features, and hair texture. It was not until my teens that I saw someone who looked like me in a book. Beyond books, the myriad of media messages did not help the issue.
Commercials, magazines, radio ads, and billboards bombarded my impressionable mind with flashy images and the constant message that to be beautiful, I had to have long, flowing hair, thin lips, and fair skin. These messages impacted my psyche and sense of self as a person of color because I never saw girls who looked like me. Today, only 8% of children’s books have main characters of color, yet about 50% of children in the USA are of color. Furthermore, only 4% of all books published are about people of African heritage (Lee & Low, 2015). The narrative must change!
That is why I became the “Lion’s Historian,” in reference to the quote by the famed African author, Chinua Achebe: “Until the lions have their own historians, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.” For centuries, the hunters’ tales have been exalted and are still being extolled. To fill this void, I began to create children’s history books (The Heritage Collection Books) that retell the stories of our African ancestors. Internalized racism and colorism stem from mainstream beauty standards that exclude and marginalize people of color. The pressure that children feel to conform to mainstream beauty standards impacts their self-esteem, leading them to use dangerous chemicals like perms and bleaching creams to become “beautiful.”
I live by the motto: “Representation Matters.” To see people who look like you makes you feel included—that you belong. Thus, such historical representations in a children’s book can cast a new narrative and inspire a positive sense of self, wholeness, and well-being. It can unleash a person’s potential, possibilities, and purpose. To that end, I am compelled to write these children’s books. These books highlight the stories of changemakers and heroes of African descent, from Nana Yaa Asantewaa, the fearless queen who fought the British, to Dr. Delores Henderson, the first Black Distinguished Principal in Minnesota, to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first woman president in Africa. The list of our heroes is endless. I pray for grace and strength to continue to tell them as long as I live. I have also created the Lion’s Historian Press as a platform for other authors to write their own stories, too.
My hope is that as people, especially children, see themselves in these books, it can inculcate in them self-love, educate them on their heritage, and glorify a diverse, inclusive, and equitable portrayal of our changemakers—past and present. Without question, the books we read and the images we see have a tremendous influence on how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. Therefore, imagine the impact stories featuring people who look like us can have on our children. Indeed, they can inspire and empower all of us.
The Heritage Collection Books:
The Girl Who Became President: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2022)
Thanks to women like Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who conquered all odds to become the first female president in Africa.
Queen Amina (2021)
The story of Queen Amina is an important one for girls everywhere. You will explore how Queen Amina gained a reputation as a fearless warrior, breaking barriers at a time when men dominated most aspects of life.
Yaa Asantewaa: The Fearless Queen (2021)
The study of Yaa Asantewaa is one of the courage, bravery, and survival of a kingdom and its people.
Queen Nandi (2021)
Who was Queen Nandi? She is referred to as one of the greatest mothers that ever lived. As a queen mother, she saw her son Shaka become one of the greatest kings of the Zulu people and builder of the Zulu empire.
The Extraordinary Educator: Dr. Delores Henderson (2021)
In this book, you will discover how a little girl with a love for reading and learning grew up to fight racism to become recognized as the first Black National Distinguished Principal for the State of Minnesota.
Connect with Rosemond Sarpong Owens
If you believe BCBA provides a valuable service, please take a few minutes to donate and support our mission to promote awareness of children’s and young adult literature by Black authors.
Amazon/Bookshop/IndieBound Disclosure: BCBA is a participant in the Amazon, Bookshop, and IndieBound Affiliate Programs. The affiliate programs offer participants the opportunity to earn fees by linking to Amazon, Bookshop, and IndieBound websites. Clicking on the book links will direct you away from this site. Thanks for your support!
