What happens when the stories we read fail to reflect the skin we live in? On this episode of Black in the Stacks: Where the Culture is Kept, we explore the vital necessity of representation in literacy and the journey of navigating the world with a rare condition.

Marquita chats with Megan Cauthen, the founder of The Golden Impact and author of the children's book Nellie & Ollie: A Friend Like Me. Megan shares her firsthand perspective on growing up with albinism and how her personal history inspired her to write for the next generation.

We discuss:

-The transition from lived experience to the written word. -Why diverse characters are essential for childhood development. -The reality of life with albinism and the power of reclaiming your own narrative.

Megan believes that our differences are our greatest strengths. This conversation is an honest look at how we can use storytelling to foster confidence and intentional growth.

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📲 Be sure to follow Megan on one or ALL of her social media platforms below for updates on the release of her book:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HdcnehcpS/?mibextid=wwXIfr

IG: https://www.instagram.com/the_golden_impact_?igsh=bzNneGU5YjkzbDR6&utm_source=qr

TT: https://www.tiktok.com/@megan.cauthen?_r=1&_t=ZP-953Hav1nRS2

On this episode of Black in the stacks, Marquita chats with Kayla Turner Thomas about her film debut, "Framing Freedom: The Inspiring True Story of Black Landownership in Mississippi. It's a gripping feature length documentary told through the lens of Thomas’ grandfather, Henry Harris, a retired second-generation farmer whose father, John Harris, managed to buy and keep farmland while Jim Crow laws were still in effect.

The film combines interviews from historians that give insight into what factors and events contributed to massive Black land loss like mob violence, federal loan discrimination, and the impact of the Great Migration. Aiming to enlighten and inspire, Farming Freedom also looks ahead to the opportunities for closing the wealth gap between non-Black and Black landowners today.

Kayla Turner Thomas, a producer and 2x Emmy-nominated creative services professional, has worked in local television for nearly 15 years. Raised on family land in the Mississippi Delta, Thomas is a proud product of Bolivar County public schools. She studied Media and Communication Arts at Pace University, Westchester, and is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

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Film: https://filmfreeway.com/FarmingFreedom

On this episode of Black in the Stacks, Marquita chats with Kaetrena Davis Kendrick about the systemic causes of low morale and workplace harm within library environments, recognizing and naming instances of workplace harm, and practical strategies for personal recovery after such experiences.

Kaetrena Davis Kendrick is a dynamic and uplifting researcher, leader, consultant, and coach. Her mission is to inspire authentic collegiality, and to promote well-being, share the gifts of creativity, and cultivate empathetic, engaged leadership in the workplace. She also helps people who are struggling in dysfunctional workplaces recognize, reconcile, and begin to recover from their experiences.

Learn more about Renewals by visiting www.renewalslis.com.

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