[Applause] imagine this you’re an 8 9 year old girl
imagine this you’re an 8 9 year old girl
imagine this you’re an 8 9 year old girl and you’re reading this book about a
and you’re reading this book about a
and you’re reading this book about a beautiful blonde girl in high school
beautiful blonde girl in high school
beautiful blonde girl in high school she’s dating a kind tall handsome
she’s dating a kind tall handsome
she’s dating a kind tall handsome sensitive guy and everyone at school is
sensitive guy and everyone at school is
sensitive guy and everyone at school is talking about you – you guys are quick
talking about you – you guys are quick
talking about you – you guys are quick they’re quickly becoming the most
they’re quickly becoming the most
they’re quickly becoming the most popular couple at school however there’s
popular couple at school however there’s
popular couple at school however there’s a problem her parents don’t approve of
a problem her parents don’t approve of
a problem her parents don’t approve of him because he’s Mexican and according
him because he’s Mexican and according
him because he’s Mexican and according to her parents those type of people are
to her parents those type of people are
to her parents those type of people are trouble men imagine you’re reading
trouble men imagine you’re reading
trouble men imagine you’re reading another book and this one is about a
another book and this one is about a
another book and this one is about a girl named Rose she’s the new girl she’s
girl named Rose she’s the new girl she’s
girl named Rose she’s the new girl she’s the new girl at school everybody wants
the new girl at school everybody wants
the new girl at school everybody wants to talk to her everybody wants to hang
to talk to her everybody wants to hang
to talk to her everybody wants to hang out with her she’s quickly becoming the
out with her she’s quickly becoming the
out with her she’s quickly becoming the popular girl – but she has a secret her
popular girl – but she has a secret her
popular girl – but she has a secret her name is not really Rose it’s actually
name is not really Rose it’s actually
name is not really Rose it’s actually the Rosa
the Rosa
the Rosa and she’s not from Boston like she
and she’s not from Boston like she
and she’s not from Boston like she claims to be she’s from Texas and she’s
claims to be she’s from Texas and she’s
claims to be she’s from Texas and she’s Mexican but she’s so embarrassed of her
Mexican but she’s so embarrassed of her
Mexican but she’s so embarrassed of her heritage and culture that she’s afraid
heritage and culture that she’s afraid
heritage and culture that she’s afraid of that if her new friends find out the
of that if her new friends find out the
of that if her new friends find out the truth they’re not going to want to hang
truth they’re not going to want to hang
truth they’re not going to want to hang out with her any longer these two books
out with her any longer these two books
out with her any longer these two books were actually published and they were
were actually published and they were
were actually published and they were part of the Sweet Valley High book
part of the Sweet Valley High book
part of the Sweet Valley High book series a series that I was obsessed with
series a series that I was obsessed with
series a series that I was obsessed with in the early 90s I so wanted to go to
in the early 90s I so wanted to go to
in the early 90s I so wanted to go to Sweet Valley High I wanted to be those
Sweet Valley High I wanted to be those
Sweet Valley High I wanted to be those girls I wanted to date those guys and I
girls I wanted to date those guys and I
girls I wanted to date those guys and I just wanted to just be part of the
just wanted to just be part of the
just wanted to just be part of the popular crowd so you could just imagine
popular crowd so you could just imagine
popular crowd so you could just imagine what these two stories these two books
what these two stories these two books
what these two stories these two books made me feel about my identity as a
made me feel about my identity as a
made me feel about my identity as a Latina growing up I didn’t have a lot of
Latina growing up I didn’t have a lot of
Latina growing up I didn’t have a lot of people that look like me that I could
people that look like me that I could
people that look like me that I could look up to and television in books or in
look up to and television in books or in
look up to and television in books or in magazines but I did read a lot and I
magazines but I did read a lot and I
magazines but I did read a lot and I also loved to play pretend the thing
also loved to play pretend the thing
also loved to play pretend the thing about playing pretend with me is that it
about playing pretend with me is that it
about playing pretend with me is that it allowed me to become
allowed me to become
allowed me to become people that in my mind I never thought I
people that in my mind I never thought I
people that in my mind I never thought I could ever be it allowed me to pretend
could ever be it allowed me to pretend
could ever be it allowed me to pretend that I could be on a stage like this
that I could be on a stage like this
that I could be on a stage like this that I could be a scientist that I could
that I could be a scientist that I could
that I could be a scientist that I could be a fashion designer a news broadcaster
be a fashion designer a news broadcaster
be a fashion designer a news broadcaster a detective because I only got in my
a detective because I only got in my
a detective because I only got in my head there was a voice that would tell
head there was a voice that would tell
head there was a voice that would tell me that those awesome cool things that I
me that those awesome cool things that I
me that those awesome cool things that I would read about and watch on TV only
would read about and watch on TV only
would read about and watch on TV only happened to other people not people with
happened to other people not people with
happened to other people not people with my brown skin last year
my brown skin last year
my brown skin last year 3400 children’s books were published at
3400 children’s books were published at
3400 children’s books were published at over 3400 only 4.9 percent were about
over 3400 only 4.9 percent were about
over 3400 only 4.9 percent were about Latino characters eight percent
Latino characters eight percent
Latino characters eight percent african-american characters seven
african-american characters seven
african-american characters seven percent Asian American characters in
percent Asian American characters in
percent Asian American characters in recent years the numbers of black
recent years the numbers of black
recent years the numbers of black characters in children’s books have
characters in children’s books have
characters in children’s books have definitely doubled and we have seen a
definitely doubled and we have seen a
definitely doubled and we have seen a small increase in Latino and Asian
small increase in Latino and Asian
small increase in Latino and Asian American characters but we’re not even
American characters but we’re not even
American characters but we’re not even close to be where we should be when I
close to be where we should be when I
close to be where we should be when I became pregnant with my first child a
became pregnant with my first child a
became pregnant with my first child a few years ago I thought about those
few years ago I thought about those
few years ago I thought about those things and about me growing up and as an
things and about me growing up and as an
things and about me growing up and as an adult I realized that I felt the way I
adult I realized that I felt the way I
adult I realized that I felt the way I felt and I saw myself not worthy enough
felt and I saw myself not worthy enough
felt and I saw myself not worthy enough because I didn’t see living proof of the
because I didn’t see living proof of the
because I didn’t see living proof of the same people of my color in these
same people of my color in these
same people of my color in these platforms and spaces so I promised
platforms and spaces so I promised
platforms and spaces so I promised myself that I was not ever going to
myself that I was not ever going to
myself that I was not ever going to allow my son to ever feel that way
allow my son to ever feel that way
allow my son to ever feel that way because he deserves to believe that he
because he deserves to believe that he
because he deserves to believe that he can do anything he wants so the first
can do anything he wants so the first
can do anything he wants so the first thing I said to myself was what can I
thing I said to myself was what can I
thing I said to myself was what can I introduce my child that would give him
introduce my child that would give him
introduce my child that would give him the proof the minute that he’s born that
the proof the minute that he’s born that
the proof the minute that he’s born that he belongs wherever he wants to be and I
he belongs wherever he wants to be and I
he belongs wherever he wants to be and I thought about books and I went looking
thought about books and I went looking
thought about books and I went looking for these books I wanted books I
for these books I wanted books I
for these books I wanted books I celebrated my culture celebrated who I
celebrated my culture celebrated who I
celebrated my culture celebrated who I was so they were proud of the way I
was so they were proud of the way I
was so they were proud of the way I spoke my language like the color of my
spoke my language like the color of my
spoke my language like the color of my skin without ever feeling ashamed and I
skin without ever feeling ashamed and I
skin without ever feeling ashamed and I went looking for these books and I
went looking for these books and I
went looking for these books and I couldn’t really find them and I was kind
couldn’t really find them and I was kind
couldn’t really find them and I was kind of disappointed because I thought that
of disappointed because I thought that
of disappointed because I thought that by now these books would have existed
by now these books would have existed
by now these books would have existed already somebody might should have
already somebody might should have
already somebody might should have created them or
created them or
created them or but instead I found translated classics
but instead I found translated classics
but instead I found translated classics of the books that we grew up with you
of the books that we grew up with you
of the books that we grew up with you know which ones where the wild things
know which ones where the wild things
know which ones where the wild things are if you give a mouse a cookie we all
are if you give a mouse a cookie we all
are if you give a mouse a cookie we all read those books growing up but we all
read those books growing up but we all
read those books growing up but we all know those books were not created for us
know those books were not created for us
know those books were not created for us for marginalized communities they were
for marginalized communities they were
for marginalized communities they were never intended or read or mean written
never intended or read or mean written
never intended or read or mean written for us people of color so I said you
for us people of color so I said you
for us people of color so I said you know somebody needs to hurry up and
know somebody needs to hurry up and
know somebody needs to hurry up and create these books because I want to buy
create these books because I want to buy
create these books because I want to buy them for my child and then I said wait
them for my child and then I said wait
them for my child and then I said wait why don’t I create the books but then
why don’t I create the books but then
why don’t I create the books but then that voice in my head the one that keeps
that voice in my head the one that keeps
that voice in my head the one that keeps telling me that I’m not good enough kind
telling me that I’m not good enough kind
telling me that I’m not good enough kind of came back in here and started saying
of came back in here and started saying
of came back in here and started saying who do you think you are you don’t
who do you think you are you don’t
who do you think you are you don’t desert you don’t have the permission to
desert you don’t have the permission to
desert you don’t have the permission to write these books or create these books
write these books or create these books
write these books or create these books but now old enough I understood that
but now old enough I understood that
but now old enough I understood that that was suggest a monster that does not
that was suggest a monster that does not
that was suggest a monster that does not exist in my head and I said I’m going to
exist in my head and I said I’m going to
exist in my head and I said I’m going to create this manuscript and I’m going to
create this manuscript and I’m going to
create this manuscript and I’m going to find a publisher that can publish these
find a publisher that can publish these
find a publisher that can publish these for me and I was really excited I was
for me and I was really excited I was
for me and I was really excited I was really motivated I really thought a
really motivated I really thought a
really motivated I really thought a publisher was going to say that is a
publisher was going to say that is a
publisher was going to say that is a great idea patty
great idea patty
great idea patty why haven’t we thought about this but
why haven’t we thought about this but
why haven’t we thought about this but instead those publishers that did get
instead those publishers that did get
instead those publishers that did get back to me they all said no and I wasn’t
back to me they all said no and I wasn’t
back to me they all said no and I wasn’t surprised and I was discouraged and I
surprised and I was discouraged and I
surprised and I was discouraged and I forgot about the idea and I moved on
forgot about the idea and I moved on
forgot about the idea and I moved on with my life then it figures later in
with my life then it figures later in
with my life then it figures later in 2014 I had a house fire my family wasn’t
2014 I had a house fire my family wasn’t
2014 I had a house fire my family wasn’t at all at home so that’s a huge blessing
at all at home so that’s a huge blessing
at all at home so that’s a huge blessing but I don’t know who ever have gone
but I don’t know who ever have gone
but I don’t know who ever have gone through something that stressful but
through something that stressful but
through something that stressful but it’s it’s hard it’s really stressful you
it’s it’s hard it’s really stressful you
it’s it’s hard it’s really stressful you are one day you have everything you ever
are one day you have everything you ever
are one day you have everything you ever work for in the next day it’s all gone
work for in the next day it’s all gone
work for in the next day it’s all gone you don’t have anything all you have are
you don’t have anything all you have are
you don’t have anything all you have are the underwear that you left that morning
the underwear that you left that morning
the underwear that you left that morning with that is it and I got really
with that is it and I got really
with that is it and I got really depressed and I started questioning my
depressed and I started questioning my
depressed and I started questioning my existence who I was as a human being as
existence who I was as a human being as
existence who I was as a human being as a Latina and as a mother and I
a Latina and as a mother and I
a Latina and as a mother and I remembered the books in the manuscript
remembered the books in the manuscript
remembered the books in the manuscript and at that time they still were not
and at that time they still were not
and at that time they still were not these books that does not exist yet and
these books that does not exist yet and
these books that does not exist yet and I said you know what I am going to do
I said you know what I am going to do
I said you know what I am going to do this this house fire was a sign for me
this this house fire was a sign for me
this this house fire was a sign for me to be reborn and do this for my
to be reborn and do this for my
to be reborn and do this for my community and my children so I got rien
community and my children so I got rien
community and my children so I got rien spired remote evaded and I started
spired remote evaded and I started
spired remote evaded and I started sending out the idea the manuscript to
sending out the idea the manuscript to
sending out the idea the manuscript to independent publishers thinking that
independent publishers thinking that
independent publishers thinking that independent publishers understand how
independent publishers understand how
independent publishers understand how marginalized communities aren’t
marginalized communities aren’t
marginalized communities aren’t represented or heard and I’m on the
represented or heard and I’m on the
represented or heard and I’m on the phone with one of them and I’m really
phone with one of them and I’m really
phone with one of them and I’m really excited sharing my story I’m like I’m
excited sharing my story I’m like I’m
excited sharing my story I’m like I’m going to change the world with these
going to change the world with these
going to change the world with these books you know we have to we have to
books you know we have to we have to
books you know we have to we have to publish them he cut me mid-sentence and
publish them he cut me mid-sentence and
publish them he cut me mid-sentence and tells me young lady you’re wasting your
tells me young lady you’re wasting your
tells me young lady you’re wasting your time Latinos don’t read to their kids
and I had heard that before not exactly
and I had heard that before not exactly in those words but we’ve all heard it as
in those words but we’ve all heard it as
in those words but we’ve all heard it as members of marginalized communities one
members of marginalized communities one
members of marginalized communities one way or another in the lack of
way or another in the lack of
way or another in the lack of representation and television in the
representation and television in the
representation and television in the lack of stories and books and magazines
lack of stories and books and magazines
lack of stories and books and magazines even in our heads when we tell ourselves
even in our heads when we tell ourselves
even in our heads when we tell ourselves then we can’t do something because of
then we can’t do something because of
then we can’t do something because of the color of our skin or we don’t
the color of our skin or we don’t
the color of our skin or we don’t believe in ourselves because it’s been
believe in ourselves because it’s been
believe in ourselves because it’s been ingrained since birth that we’re
ingrained since birth that we’re
ingrained since birth that we’re second-class citizens and right there
second-class citizens and right there
second-class citizens and right there and then I decided to stop that voice in
and then I decided to stop that voice in
and then I decided to stop that voice in my head and decided that I needed to do
my head and decided that I needed to do
my head and decided that I needed to do this so I call my best friend Arianna
this so I call my best friend Arianna
this so I call my best friend Arianna and we start exchanging ideas and we’re
and we start exchanging ideas and we’re
and we start exchanging ideas and we’re really excited and we’re telling each
really excited and we’re telling each
really excited and we’re telling each other we’re going to do this we’re going
other we’re going to do this we’re going
other we’re going to do this we’re going to change the world our children are
to change the world our children are
to change the world our children are going to wake up and see themselves in
going to wake up and see themselves in
going to wake up and see themselves in books and we’re going to be celebrated
books and we’re going to be celebrated
books and we’re going to be celebrated and then we looked at each other and
and then we looked at each other and
and then we looked at each other and we’re like how are we going to do this
but we managed because we had the heart
but we managed because we had the heart and we create our publishing company a
and we create our publishing company a
and we create our publishing company a bilingual publishing company for
bilingual publishing company for
bilingual publishing company for children we call their little liberals
children we call their little liberals
children we call their little liberals which translates to little books a few
which translates to little books a few
which translates to little books a few months later we publish our first three
months later we publish our first three
months later we publish our first three books then three months later we
books then three months later we
books then three months later we published our three more books and then
published our three more books and then
published our three more books and then now we have nine
now we have nine
now we have nine titles and thanks to the support of our
titles and thanks to the support of our
titles and thanks to the support of our community our parents our grandparents
community our parents our grandparents
community our parents our grandparents and our children these books are now
and our children these books are now
and our children these books are now available at Target at Barnes & Noble at
available at Target at Barnes & Noble at
available at Target at Barnes & Noble at the Museum of Modern Art in New York at
the Museum of Modern Art in New York at
the Museum of Modern Art in New York at the LA County thank you at the LA County
the LA County thank you at the LA County
the LA County thank you at the LA County Museum of Art you know this is not just
Museum of Art you know this is not just
Museum of Art you know this is not just about these books this is about all of
about these books this is about all of
about these books this is about all of us here all of us here are capable of
us here all of us here are capable of
us here all of us here are capable of becoming role models and mentors for our
becoming role models and mentors for our
becoming role models and mentors for our children we’re all capable of creating a
children we’re all capable of creating a
children we’re all capable of creating a world for them where they wake up
world for them where they wake up
world for them where they wake up knowing they belong when I started
knowing they belong when I started
knowing they belong when I started looking for these children’s books for
looking for these children’s books for
looking for these children’s books for my when I was pregnant with my child I
my when I was pregnant with my child I
my when I was pregnant with my child I would go to these stores and I would ask
would go to these stores and I would ask
would go to these stores and I would ask and say ask them and ask for where can I
and say ask them and ask for where can I
and say ask them and ask for where can I find your Latino bookstore where can I
find your Latino bookstore where can I
find your Latino bookstore where can I find your your bilingual books or your
find your your bilingual books or your
find your your bilingual books or your Spanish books and at all they will
Spanish books and at all they will
Spanish books and at all they will always motion to the back of the store
always motion to the back of the store
always motion to the back of the store to IO x y&z the last aisle and say oh
to IO x y&z the last aisle and say oh
to IO x y&z the last aisle and say oh they’re over there and I would ask is
they’re over there and I would ask is
they’re over there and I would ask is this all you have available and they
this all you have available and they
this all you have available and they would say well they don’t really sell
would say well they don’t really sell
would say well they don’t really sell and I really wanted to say how do you
and I really wanted to say how do you
and I really wanted to say how do you expect them to sell when you have them
expect them to sell when you have them
expect them to sell when you have them in the back and that’s how I feel most
in the back and that’s how I feel most
in the back and that’s how I feel most of my life how do you expect me to
of my life how do you expect me to
of my life how do you expect me to achieve and be the best I can be when
achieve and be the best I can be when
achieve and be the best I can be when you’re having us in the back when you’re
you’re having us in the back when you’re
you’re having us in the back when you’re not giving us the opportunities that
not giving us the opportunities that
not giving us the opportunities that others are given so I invite you all
others are given so I invite you all
others are given so I invite you all here to join me and speak up go to these
here to join me and speak up go to these
here to join me and speak up go to these stores go to the movie theater ask for
stores go to the movie theater ask for
stores go to the movie theater ask for stories by our stories watch our stories
stories by our stories watch our stories
stories by our stories watch our stories listen to our stories seek our stories
listen to our stories seek our stories
listen to our stories seek our stories because our children deserve role models
because our children deserve role models
because our children deserve role models that look like them
that look like them
that look like them thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
”
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