Literary Birthday – 13 February – Carole Boston Weatherford

Happy Birthday, Carole Boston Weatherford , born 13 February 1956.

Carole Boston Weatherford Quotes

1. I was so hungry to learn. My mother drilled this into me. When you read, she said, you know–and you can help yourself and others. (Goodreads)
2. My mission is to mine the past for family stories, fading traditions, and forgotten struggles that center on African American resistance, resilience, remarkability, rejoicing and remembrance. (Poetry Foundation)
3. My children led me to write for young people. (Teaching For Black Lives)
4. I believe that young people not only deserve the truth, but demand the truth. I believe that children are not too tender for tough topics. (Teaching For Black Lives)
5. An essential part of the education process is critical literacy. It’s very important, and I applaud the teachers for doing the work. (Teaching For Black Lives)
6. Children are the most important audience, the most important readers. That’s why I feel so wonderful about being able to write for children, even though that was not my intent when I set my sights on becoming an author.  (Teaching For Black Lives)
7. Some people just need to move around to get the creative juices flowing. You can loosen up by taking a walk or writing something else, if you feel like it. (Highlights)
8. Poetry is my go-to language because it’s my first literary language. I started out writing poetry as a first grader, and I continue to find the same joy and magic in writing poetry today. (Highlights)
9. I always say do a lot of reading and practise your craft, which often means a lot of revising and patience. The practice may also include joining a critique group to get feedback from like-minded writers. Just persevere! (Highlights)

Carole Boston Weatherford is an American author, critic, and poet. She has published over 80 children’s books, primarily non-fiction and poetry. ‘The books she writes, in poetry and prose, explore African-American history from a children’s perspective and relate the past to new generations. Her works are often inspired by true events, many of which took place in the areas where she has lived.’ She has won 2 NAACP Image Awards and 18 American Library Association Youth Media Awards, including a Newbery Honor, Coretta Scott King Award, and 4 Caldecott Honors. Her latest poetry collection is KIN: Rooted in Hope and her latest non-fiction picture book is A Crown of Stories: The Life and Language of Beloved Writer Toni Morrison.

Source for image: Author’s Website (credit Gerald Young)

by Amanda Patterson

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