When Lupita Nyong’o’s powerful 2014 speech about how colorism affected her as a child went viral, she realized she could reach young people before negative seeds were planted by writing a children’s book. She told The New York Times last year: “At that time it occurred to me that there was an audience that this was resonating with, but the age group that really needed to hear this wouldn’t necessarily hear the speech.”
In the midst of her historic box office success, Nyong’o officially realized her dream as an author when she unveiled the cover for "Sulwe," a picture book that encourages self-esteem by teaching kids to celebrate the ways that they are unique, Afropunk reported on April 2.
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I wrote a book called #Sulwe! This is the cover, illustrated by @VashtiHarrison! Available for pre-order now & out Oct 1 ➡️https://t.co/O04OLMf5XX
rnttI wrote Sulwe to inspire children (and everyone really!) to love the skin they are in & to see the beauty that radiates from within. pic.twitter.com/z0gpC2neOXrnt— Lupita Nyong’o (@Lupita_Nyongo) April 1, 2019
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The Amazon description reads: “‘Sulwe’ has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything.”
The book, illustrated by Vashti Harrison, will be available October 1 and can be pre-ordered here.