Makiah Shipp’s Makiah’s Show and Tell
Makiah Shipp is a civic engagement activist committed to empowering young Black girls. She studied Afro American and African Studies at the University of Michigan and is currently graduating from college as a junior.
One of Makiah’s many accomplishments is authoring her children’s book, Makiah’s Show and Tell. She shares, “Makiah’s Show and Tell is a story of an elementary school-aged Black girl who passionately teaches others about the significance of Black natural hair in Black culture. She reminds those around her of how important it is to be conscious of how they talk about and/or interact with her hair to avoid being micro aggressive and inappropriate.” Makiah says that the book “provides Black girls with a guide-book style story to reinforce their confidence and encourage them to properly educate those around them.”
While the story itself demonstrates much insight and touches the hearts of its readers, the book is further brought to life by the beautiful illustrations created by University of Michigan students Hannah Anderson and Ebba Gurney.
To help share her words with the children Makiah hopes to inspire, she hosted a book tour and went to numerous elementary schools to read her book and discuss identity with the kids. In addition to empowering young Black girls, Makiah says that the book “allows other agents in society (family members, friends, teachers, etc.) to understand how their behaviors and racial biases contribute to others' potential adoption of harmful self-perceptions.”
Racism is a very serious issue that has existed for far too long. Raising Good People was inspired by some unfortunate racist incidents that occurred in the founder’s high school. The students in this school district have historically been predominantly of one race, and this likely plays a part in the way in which some of the kids grow up perceiving the world. Upon connecting with Raising Good People, Makiah visited a number of the elementary schools of this school district during her book tour. To have leaders like Makiah go to these cities, share her story, and be a role model for these children is something that will truly change the future and help to raise empathetic, loving, good people who will become strong leaders themselves.
Makiah’s book can be purchased through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Target, Walmart, and wherever else you buy your books. It can also be purchased directly through the publisher via this link: https://store.bookbaby.com/book/makiahs-show-and-tell
