This is an Op-Ed by the Courier Post Online
Published on 9/29/2009
Those who are trying to make a months-old school project into something sinister need to get over it.
It's clear a faction of Americans are dead-set against ever accepting Barack Obama as president of the United States.
But do these people really need to take a simple song or two -- sung barely a month after Obama's inauguration and sung, logically enough, during Black History Month -- and try to cast the project as some kind of organized attack against the nation?
Really?
Read the entire article here:
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20090929/OPINION/909290305/-1/newsfront2/C-P-Editorial--Burlco-school-video-isn-t-indoctrination
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Right-Wing Slinging About Obama Hits Author
By Felicia Pride
Published in The Root, 9/29/2009
Charisse Carney-Nunes writes children's books. Her books, which are published through her company Brand Nu Words, include titles like "Nappy" and "I Dream for You a World: A Covenant for our Children," and are designed to empower kids.
Committed to justice and equality, Nunes, whose books I've covered before, is one of the last people you'd expect to be in the middle of a sloppy smear campaign by right-wingers Michelle Malkin and friends. OK, I take that back. She is exactly the type of person who the Malkins of the world prey on.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.theroot.com/blogs/right-wing/right-wing-slinging-about-obama-hits-author
Published in The Root, 9/29/2009
Charisse Carney-Nunes writes children's books. Her books, which are published through her company Brand Nu Words, include titles like "Nappy" and "I Dream for You a World: A Covenant for our Children," and are designed to empower kids.
Committed to justice and equality, Nunes, whose books I've covered before, is one of the last people you'd expect to be in the middle of a sloppy smear campaign by right-wingers Michelle Malkin and friends. OK, I take that back. She is exactly the type of person who the Malkins of the world prey on.
Click here to read full article:
http://www.theroot.com/blogs/right-wing/right-wing-slinging-about-obama-hits-author
Saturday, September 12, 2009
President Obama Needs to Continue to be a "Ray of Sunshine Symbol of Hope"
Published in The Los Angeles Sentinel, 9/10/2009
http://www.lasentinel.net/President-Obama-Needs-to-Continue-to-be-a-Ray-of-Sunshine-Symbol-of-Hope.html
There is a lot of noise in the media today about whether it is appropriate for President Obama to address our nation's children. Not only is it appropriate, it is necessary.
I have known for many years how inspiring President Obama is. I knew him as a student at Harvard Law School in the early nineties where he was a high achiever and a gifted orator.
When he burst onto the world stage at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, his awesome speech was no surprise to those who'd known him at Harvard. Three years later, I learned of his Presidential bid and, though surprised by the timing, I immediately signed on because I knew that this man would inspire the nation. I felt like the rest of the world would now become privy to a secret that those familiar with him had been aware of for years.
However, what I didn't account for was the extraordinary impact that Barack Obama would have on children. As a children's author, I frequently traveled to schools nationwide promoting my work and talking to kids about child civic engagement. In late 2007, I began to notice that the promise and the example of Barack Obama was infectious among our youngest citizens. And by no means was this sentiment limited to children of color or to children of partisan parents. For children in general were interested in democracy -- interested in what they could do to make their homes, schools and communities a better place.
In the urban districts the fever was undeniable. I heard stories of little African-American boys pulling up their pants, wearing belts and shunning the prevalent, prison-inspired fashion statement known as 'sagging.' In my mother's school, there was a young African-American girl who made the honor role and openly gave the credit to Barack Obama. Before Barack she was uninspired and deemed unreachable, refusing to ignite the potential inside that all of her teachers knew was there.
Meeting these children, educators and parents gave me hope and sustenance. So I set about to collect some of these stories. This process made me understand that, as much as I may support Barack Obama, this moment is really not about Barack Obama; it's about so much more.
It's about the multi-racial child from Wisconsin who told me, "When I saw him in a magazine with the other candidates, I knew right away I picked him. It struck me like thunder. He made a good effort, followed his dreams and won... When I grow up I want to be an astronaut. Now Barack showed me that I can do it."
It's about the little African-American girl from New Jersey who told me, "When I see Barack Obama I see a ray of sunshine. I see a symbol of hope. Seeing Barack Obama makes me feel special and unique in my own way. I realize that a young girl like me can grow up and become President of the United States!"
It's about the mother in DC who told me that, even though she was not a Democrat and disagreed with President Obama's policies, she wanted her children to be inspired by President Obama's example.
As the mother of two young children, I spend a lot of time thinking about the media messages my children are exposed to. I wish that Disney or Nickelodeon would commit to publishing the scripts of Hannah Montana or iCarly in advance. While I allow my 9 year old daughter to watch these shows --which I find generally acceptable-- an occasionally risquĊ½ episode can run dangerously close to disturbing the values I am instilling in my child. I wonder if the parents who are so upset about the President's speech to school children have voiced similar concerns to the networks and advertisers who exert so much control over the messages our children receive on a daily basis.
My first presidential experience was meeting Ronald Reagan as a teen. Though my parents had not voted for him, I was still proud to shake the hand of a U.S. president as he congratulated me for receiving a White House award in Science & Technology. His message was inspiring and simple. Education is the key to success. Stay in school. Work hard. You can achieve the American dream.
The signed letter I received from President Reagan continues to decorate the foyer of my mother's house today. And even though I am at the opposite end of the political spectrum from this late President, his letter still inspires me. And yes, we should allow our children the opportunity to be inspired by our President as well.
Charisse Carney-Nunes is Senior Vice President of The Jamestown Project and author of the children's book, "I Am Barack Obama."
http://www.lasentinel.net/President-Obama-Needs-to-Continue-to-be-a-Ray-of-Sunshine-Symbol-of-Hope.html
There is a lot of noise in the media today about whether it is appropriate for President Obama to address our nation's children. Not only is it appropriate, it is necessary.
I have known for many years how inspiring President Obama is. I knew him as a student at Harvard Law School in the early nineties where he was a high achiever and a gifted orator.
When he burst onto the world stage at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, his awesome speech was no surprise to those who'd known him at Harvard. Three years later, I learned of his Presidential bid and, though surprised by the timing, I immediately signed on because I knew that this man would inspire the nation. I felt like the rest of the world would now become privy to a secret that those familiar with him had been aware of for years.
However, what I didn't account for was the extraordinary impact that Barack Obama would have on children. As a children's author, I frequently traveled to schools nationwide promoting my work and talking to kids about child civic engagement. In late 2007, I began to notice that the promise and the example of Barack Obama was infectious among our youngest citizens. And by no means was this sentiment limited to children of color or to children of partisan parents. For children in general were interested in democracy -- interested in what they could do to make their homes, schools and communities a better place.
In the urban districts the fever was undeniable. I heard stories of little African-American boys pulling up their pants, wearing belts and shunning the prevalent, prison-inspired fashion statement known as 'sagging.' In my mother's school, there was a young African-American girl who made the honor role and openly gave the credit to Barack Obama. Before Barack she was uninspired and deemed unreachable, refusing to ignite the potential inside that all of her teachers knew was there.
Meeting these children, educators and parents gave me hope and sustenance. So I set about to collect some of these stories. This process made me understand that, as much as I may support Barack Obama, this moment is really not about Barack Obama; it's about so much more.
It's about the multi-racial child from Wisconsin who told me, "When I saw him in a magazine with the other candidates, I knew right away I picked him. It struck me like thunder. He made a good effort, followed his dreams and won... When I grow up I want to be an astronaut. Now Barack showed me that I can do it."
It's about the little African-American girl from New Jersey who told me, "When I see Barack Obama I see a ray of sunshine. I see a symbol of hope. Seeing Barack Obama makes me feel special and unique in my own way. I realize that a young girl like me can grow up and become President of the United States!"
It's about the mother in DC who told me that, even though she was not a Democrat and disagreed with President Obama's policies, she wanted her children to be inspired by President Obama's example.
As the mother of two young children, I spend a lot of time thinking about the media messages my children are exposed to. I wish that Disney or Nickelodeon would commit to publishing the scripts of Hannah Montana or iCarly in advance. While I allow my 9 year old daughter to watch these shows --which I find generally acceptable-- an occasionally risquĊ½ episode can run dangerously close to disturbing the values I am instilling in my child. I wonder if the parents who are so upset about the President's speech to school children have voiced similar concerns to the networks and advertisers who exert so much control over the messages our children receive on a daily basis.
My first presidential experience was meeting Ronald Reagan as a teen. Though my parents had not voted for him, I was still proud to shake the hand of a U.S. president as he congratulated me for receiving a White House award in Science & Technology. His message was inspiring and simple. Education is the key to success. Stay in school. Work hard. You can achieve the American dream.
The signed letter I received from President Reagan continues to decorate the foyer of my mother's house today. And even though I am at the opposite end of the political spectrum from this late President, his letter still inspires me. And yes, we should allow our children the opportunity to be inspired by our President as well.
Charisse Carney-Nunes is Senior Vice President of The Jamestown Project and author of the children's book, "I Am Barack Obama."
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Martha's Vineyard Tea
We had tea at Atria on Martha's Vineyard in honor of the First Family! What a great event.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/charissecarneynunes/sets/72157622335111306/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/charissecarneynunes/sets/72157622335111306/
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Charisse at Woodridge Library's Preschool Breakfast Club, NE DC
View my new photos and meet my new friends from the Woodridge Library, DCPL.
Have you bought a book today -- preferably by a Black Children's Author??
If not? Have you visited your LOCAL LIBRARY and checked one out?? DON'T LOSE IT!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2216231&l=cbd4edb796&id=608868120
Have you bought a book today -- preferably by a Black Children's Author??
If not? Have you visited your LOCAL LIBRARY and checked one out?? DON'T LOSE IT!
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2216231&l=cbd4edb796&id=608868120
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Literary Obama - Book Review
One might easily mistake the beautifully-illustrated book, I am Barack Obama by Charisse Carney-Nunes and Ann Marie Williams, for a traditional children’s biography. But it offers, in my view, a more innovative strategy by portraying our 44th President’s life simply as the story of a young boy and his extended family: the obstacles he faced as a bi-racial child with a single parent; his love of basketball, of learning, and of helping others.
Guided by the philosophy that “inspiration and optimism are the first steps” to children’s achievement, Carney-Nunes’s poetic second-person narrative speaks directly to young listeners through the life story of Obama:
You’ll travel far and wideAlong the journey of your lifeYou’ll know joy and happinessAnd you’ll know sorrow,you’ll know strife…
Parents and teachers who are already familiar with Obama’s background will recognize “Toot” and the landscape of Indonesia along with iconic images of his life and career. Additionally, the book contains an appendix with a brief bio, teaching resources, and personal essays by several children who have been inspired by the President. (”The same year Barack Obama won, I won,” writes 10-year-old Morgana, “I am currently the youngest president ever elected in my middle school…”) Their words suggest that Obama’s story can begin with any child and this is exactly point of I am Barack Obama.
Carney-Nunes is the author of several children’s books and CEO of Brand Nu Words publishing. She and Obama are also former classmates from Harvard Law School.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Making Moves in Philly
The School District of Philadelphia presented Brand Nu Words with a $12,000 check to help support the efforts of educating our youth through reading!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Read All About It!
I Am Barack Obama is showcased on the front page of The Savannah Tribune! Copy & paste the following link to read more: http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.savannahtribune.com%2Fnews%2F2009-06-10%2FFront_Page%2FCommunity_and_Boule_Salute_Young_Men_of_Honor.html&h=f4f5ce876a4bca5324811b7a164f524e
Monday, May 25, 2009
Los Angeles Boys & Girls Club Visit
On the afternoon of May 12, 2009, I visited the Boys & Girls Club of East Los Angeles. The visit was facilitated by the Afterschool Alliance (http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/) an awesome organization that works tirelessly toward the goal of quality afterschool programs for all children. The children of this club are almost all Hispanic and were inspired by I Am Barack Obama. They welcomed me with open arms and love and even performed a special cheer for me. :-)
Friday, May 22, 2009
Power Lunch!
May 2009: Harvey and I had a Power Lunch with Power People Mario and Maya Van Peebles. Ready to take over the world?
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