Jewell Parker Rhodes: “I try to write compact, emotional and thought-provoking stories.”

Aurora: What was your inspiration behind your most recent novel?

Jewell: While researching my last book Ghost Boys, I learned elementary through high school students of color are often unfairly suspended, arrested by police, and in many cases charged with crimes. Once arrested even for minor infractions, the odds that student will be entrapped by the criminal justice system and not graduate, double. Ghost Boys addressed racial bias in our cities and towns. Black Brother, Black Brother addresses bias in schools, both public and private.

What character do you most relate to and why?

I relate to both brothers, Donte and Trey. These characters are inspired by my own experiences raising two bi-racial kids (one, light-skinned; the other, darker) who have had very different experiences growing up in America. Skin color should not determine the ease with which one child is more fully embraced by society and the other is subject to racism. Like Donte and Trey in Black Brother, Black Brother, I want my children (all children) to be treated equally and none privileged because of skin tone.

Why do you feel books with powerful and relatable characters are so popular and have such voice right now?

We live in tense, unsettling, and disruptive times. Social equity issues, in particular, affect families. Youth are desperate to discuss conflicts and for opportunities to develop critical thinking skills and empathy. Characters become a conduit for them to explore ideas, feelings and, perhaps, more importantly, to discuss with classmates, teachers, and parents ways to become empowered and make their future better and brighter.

Please describe the content of your latest book and what can readers expect from the read.

I try to write compact, emotional and thought-provoking stories. Black Brother, Black Brother is not only a social justice novel, but it’s also about media and popular culture exclusion of writers and athletes of color. Alexander Dumas in his tales of derring-do, was writing about his father, Napoleon’s most famous general, a.k.a. “the Black Count.”  Yet, historically, poor kids and kids of color have been excluded from American fencing. Donte in Black Brother, Black Brother becomes a self-realized fencing champion. A hero who advocates for celebrating everyone’s heritage

What’s next for you in the book world?

A novel about climate change. Wildfires throughout the world are devastating communities, wildlife and habitats. My heroine, a Brooklyn girl during a wilderness adventure learns the importance of wild lands, national parks, and rural communities. She also learns she has the strength, instinct, and resilience to be a leader and save lives.  Her name is Aduago, “daughter of eagles.”

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