Why I Wrote This Book
The N-Word Is Not Nice was written because I wanted a resource that could help children understand more than simply, “That is a bad word” or “Do not say that.”
Children need age-appropriate education. They need to understand that some words carry history, pain, and meaning beyond what they may hear in music, online, in conversation, or from others around them. This book was created to help adults begin that conversation with honesty, care, and compassion.
My goal was to create a child-friendly story that helps families, educators, counselors, and caring adults talk about hurtful language, respect, dignity, and the power of words.
The Backstory
This book grew from a need I saw for a gentle but honest resource for children. I searched for something that could explain the history and impact of the N-word in a way young readers could understand, but I could not find the kind of resource I was looking for.
So I wrote one.
I wanted the story to open the door for meaningful conversations without shame, fear, or harshness. Children are still learning. When adults give them the right tools, they can understand hard topics with empathy and care.
The N-Word Is Not Nice is meant to help children learn that words matter, history matters, and kindness matters.
How the Characters Were Developed
When I decided to turn this story into a book, I wanted the characters to feel personal, warm, and real. Lennel was inspired by a childhood photo of me.
The grandmother was inspired by my paternal grandmother, Lennel, and the little girl in the story was named in her honor.
The grandmother figure was important because I wanted the story to include love, wisdom, history, and guidance. Grandma represents the kind of caring adult who helps a child understand something difficult in a way that is truthful and nurturing.
I also wanted Lennel’s friends to reflect a diverse community so children from different backgrounds could see themselves in the story. The message of this book is not only for one group of people. It is for families, classrooms, schools, and communities.
The Heart of the Message
This book is not only about a word. It is about dignity, history, repair, empathy, self-worth, and learning how words can either hurt or heal.
At the heart of the story is a simple message: children can learn to choose words that show respect, kindness, and care.
