Episode 36 – A Conversation about Justice and Faith with Keishia Lee Louis

February is Black History Month. We’d like to spotlight Keishia Lee Louis, an African American educator and children’s author, who’s using her words to impact the next generation for good. Through both scholarship and storytelling, Keishia seeks to illuminate God’s image reflected in literature and children’s lives. Keishia and I discuss her book Use Your Palabras, Jovita! which is based on the life of a lesser known hero of American history, Jovita Idar. A Mexican-American journalist, activist, and suffragist, Jovita used her words to fight for justice and equality in the face of intense opposition. She advocated for the First Amendment and multicultural/multilingual education in schools, among other issues, in Laredo, Texas, in the early part of the 20th century. Keishia talks about her cross-cultural marriage, representation in children’s literature, the relevance of her book today, and the importance of multicultural education. Takeaways Parents and educators must make an effort to communicate to children that they are created in God’s image and have worth and dignity. Through their unique gifts and attributes they not only reflect Him but also can achieve great things in His name. When children and young people understand that their words carry power, they can make a change for good through their words. Our faith in God informs our practice of justice and motivates us to love others. Join our online community to share your thoughts on this episode. Links Learn more about Keishia Learn more about Use Your Palabras, Jovita!: How This Brave Journalist Stood for Justice Connect with Mabel on Facebook Connect with Mabel on Instagram Check out Mabel’s book, Far from Home Watch & Subscribe on YouTube https://youtu.be/qwCfRnEc2E0 Subscribe to Mabel’s Emails