Rebekah Jorgenson’s blog Motherhood Moments is a collection of posts about all things motherhood. Included are parenting tips and tricks, time-savers, money saving coupons, offers for free products and much more. Rebekah hosts a regular blog post called “Book Nook” with information about the latest children’s and parenting books. The blog is a one stop resource for any parent in need of parenting information.
Motherhood Moments featured MJ’s forthcoming book, Raising Confident Black Kids in a Book Nook post. In addition, she interviewed MJ about the book, why she wrote it, and what we can do to raise confident, empowered Black children.
Thank you, Rebekah!
Here’s a link to the interview: https://motherhood-moment.blogspot.com/2021/01/book-nook-raising-confident-black-kids.html
Why did you write this book?
I’ve been watching the mood of the country and the unwarranted deaths of Black people like Eric Garner, Philando Castile, and Breonna Taylor, and the backlash after their deaths, and it occurred to me that we’re not having honest conversations about race. I wanted to raise awareness about racism and give parents tools they can use to keep their kids safe, while arming them with strategies they can use to raise children who resist racism and are confident in their skin.
Why is it important for Black parents to have a parenting guide targeted specifically to them?
Raising a Black child is a little different than raising a child of any other race. There are conversations parents of Black kids must have with their kids that other parents don’t have to initiate with their children. There are plenty of parenting guides that have been published and are useful for parents of all races of children, but I wanted to see the conversation narrow a little bit when talking to parents of Black children because raising a Black child is more fraught with complication, and I wasn’t seeing those conversations taking place as openly as I’d like.
-- A creator of safe spaces, and an initiator of difficult conversations, M.J. Fievre, B.S. Ed, spent much time building up her Black students, helping them feel comfortable in their skin, and affirming their identities. Her close relationships with parents and students led her to look more closely at how we can balance protecting our child’s innocence with preparing them for the realities of Black life. When―and how―do you approach racism with your children? How do you protect their physical and mental health while also preparing them for a country full of systemic racism? She began to research the issue and speak to school counselors and psychologists to find (and apply!) strategies parents and teachers can use with their children to broach uncomfortable but necessary topics.
M.J. is also the author of Badass Black Girl, a daily dose of affirmations for Black Girls
“You'll come away from Badass Black Girl feeling as if you've known the author your entire life, and it's a rare feat for any writer.” ―“Mike, the Poet,” author of Dear Woman and The Boyfriend Book
#1 Gift Idea in Teen & Young Adult Cultural Heritage Biographies, Publishers Weekly Select Title for Young Readers
Affirmations for strong, fearless Black girls. Wisdom from Badass Black female trailblazers who accomplished remarkable things in literature, entertainment, education, STEM, business, military and government services, politics and law, activism, sports, spirituality, and more.
Explore the many facets of your identity through hundreds of big and small questions. In this journal designed for teenage Black girls, MJ Fievre tackles topics such as family and friends, school and careers, body image, and stereotypes. By reflecting on these topics, you will confront the issues that can hold you back from living your best life and discovering your Black girl bliss.
Embrace authenticity and celebrate who you are. Finding the courage to live as you are is not easy, so here’s a journal designed to help you nurture creativity, positive self-awareness and Black girl bliss. This journal honors the strength and spirit of Black girls.
Change the way you view the world. This journal provides words of encouragement that seek to inspire and ignite discussion. You are growing up in a world that tries to tell you how to look and act. MJ Fievre encourages you to fight the flow and determine for yourself who you want to be.
Badass Black Girl helps you to:
Build and boost your self-esteem with powerful affirmations
Learn more about yourself through insightful journaling
Become comfortable and confident in your authentic self