Nurturing Peace and Harmony

Chrystal Carr Jeter, community outreach services manager for the Cleveland Public Library, gently opens the book she credits with changing the course of children’s literature: Zeely, by Yellow Springs native Virginia Hamilton. It’s the tale of a young girl who is captivated by a regal black woman who carries her heritage proudly for all to emulate.

“When I was growing up, books often portrayed my race in ways that were horribly degrading,” Jeter says softly. “But in 1967, after I graduated from high school, I was introduced to this book, Virginia’s first. I was awed by the fact that the main character looked like an African queen.

“I thought about that,” she muses, “and then I thought about how we all could be African queens, too.” To read more, click here to subscribe. >>