A Hero Like Me - Children's Book Review

 

Title: A Hero Like Me

Author: Jen Reid and Angela Joy

Illustrator: Leire Salaberria

Publisher: Frances Lincoln Children's Books

Publication Date: June 6, 2023

Length: 40 Pages

About the Author
Jen Reid grew up in the city of Bath, England. Her experiences of racism growing up were first-hand. From being the only Black child in her local primary school in the 1980s to moving to London in the 1990s and facing the daily microaggressions that black women suffer in the workplace, Jen has experienced the everyday racism that is ingrained in our society.

The Events of June 7, 2020, in Bristol, England
This children's picture book is based on the events of June 7, 2020, in Bristol, England. A statue of the seventeenth-century slave trader Edward Colston was pulled down and thrown into Bristol Harbour during a George Floyd anti-racism protest.

Jen Reid was one of the protesters that day and she spontaneously climbed on the empty statue base and raised her fist high above her head. This moment was captured on camera and shared around the world.

A statue of Jen was placed on the empty statue base and was called "A Surge of Power". It gained widespread attention for the 24 hours it was in place.

My Thoughts
This is a powerful book that deals with racism and activism. 

The book provides parents and teachers an opportunity to discuss these issues with children and answer their questions. Children of all races and nationalities could benefit from reading and discussing this book. 

The illustrations are excellent and add value to the text. The story is appropriate for children of all ages. Highly Recommended.

RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley to review.

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Innocent Man Spends Three Decades on Alabama's Death Row

The Sun Does Shine: How I Found Life and Freedom on Death Row (Oprah's Book Club Summer 2018 Selection)

Author: Anthony Ray Hinton and Lara Love Hardin

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: March 27, 2018

Length: 273 Pages


About the Author
Anthony Ray Hinton spent nearly thirty years on death row for crimes he didn't commit. Released in April 2015, Hinton now speaks widely on prison reform and the power of faith and forgiveness.

Guilty Until Proven Innocent
In 1985, Anthony Ray Hinton was arrested and charged with armed robbery, kidnapping and the murders of two fast food workers in Alabama. He knew that it was a case of mistaken identity and believed that the truth would prove his innocence and ultimately set him free.

But with no money and an unfair system of justice for a poor black man in the South, Hinton was sentenced to death by electrocution.

This is a memoir of Mr. Hinton's experiences on death row and how he was eventually exonerated by the United States Supreme Court. The state of Alabama dropped all charges against him.

My Thoughts
This is the story of blatant and intentional racism and discrimination. Anthony Ray Hinton was charged with murder because of the color of his skin and his inability to hire a competent defense attorney.

"You know, I don't care whether you did or didn't do it. In fact, I believe that you didn't do it. But it doesn't matter. If you didn't do it, one of your brothers did. And you're going to take the rap." Lieutenant Acker of Birmingham Police Department

Mr. Hinton was found guilty of murder by a jury and given a life sentence in prison. A judge overruled the jury and changed the sentence to death by electrocution.

The author spent his first three years on death row in silence. He was a Christian man and could not understand how God could allow something like this to happen. His heart was full of anger and revenge toward the people who had sent an innocent man to death row.

The beautiful thing about this story is how the author eventually became a shining light of hope for the other prisoners on death row. Mr. Hinton started reaching out to other prisoners. He got permission to start a book club and prisoners were allowed to read and discuss books. He tried to keep a positive attitude despite many discouraging years of fighting for freedom in the legal system. 

"I forgive because not to forgive would only hurt me." Anthony Ray Hinton

The author credits his faith in God, his mother's unconditional love, the loyalty of his best friend and an excellent attorney from the Equal Justice Initiative for his eventual exoneration and release from death row.

Anthony Ray Hinton was the 152nd person exonerated from death row in the United States since 1973 and the sixth in the state of Alabama. He is now a poster boy for all that is broken in our criminal justice system. 

Our pledge of allegiance..."one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." That should be our vision for the future. 

MY RATING: 5 STARS OUT OF 5

FYI ~ I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

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Matt Lauer Interviews George Bush

Decision Points, the memoirs of George W. Bush, was released today.  I pre-ordered a copy from Amazon.Com and it was delivered to my Kindle last night.  I don't usually read books written by politicians (YAWN), but this book has definitely caught my interest. 
I watched the interview with Matt Lauer last night and thought the former president was doing his best to be honest and candid.  George Bush wrote a book and he is required to promote the book.  I firmly believe that this interview (and all the interviews that he will do in the next few weeks) was about selling a book. 
As president of the United States, George Bush had to make many tough decisions.  He frankly talked about some of these decisions in the interview.  The topic that I found most interesting was his response to questions that Lauer asked about Hurricane Katrina.  The former president was obviously angry when he was asked about the remark that Kenye West made during a televised fund raiser ~ "George Bush doesn't care about black people."  George Bush declared that West called him a racist and that "I am not a racist." 
OK, George...You are not a racist.  But don't you think you are over reacting a bit?
It is obvious that the former president does not do well at taking criticism.  I mean, I don't care for it myself.  However, when you accept the job as president of the United States you have to accept the fact that many people will not like you or appreciate what you do.  That is life. 
This afternoon Oprah Winfrey will interview the former president about his book.  I am looking forward to this interview and then I will start reading the book.