MALCOLM AND ME (SparkPress, November 17, 2020) is a vital #OwnVoices exploration of the elusive truths in our personal and national narrative by author Robin Farmer. The novel has already been celebrated as a Buzzfeed Most Anticipated Book For Back To School and one of Beyond The Bookends' Fall 2020 Book Picks!
Inspired by Farmer’s own confrontation with a nun over a racist comment as a young girl, Malcolm and Me is a coming-of-age story about the adolescent trauma of a black Catholic schoolgirl in Philadelphia confronting racism and the hypocrisy that surrounds her, within her school, her family, her community, and the Oval Office as Watergate unfolds. Winner of the She Writes Press and SparkPress Toward Equality in Publishing (STEP) contest, Farmer writes about discovering your voice to empower others.
You can learn more in this interview.
1. What are the parallels between Roberta’s world and what we’re experiencing today? We know history repeats itself, and still it’s mind-blowing for me to hear the echoes of the 1970s today. Roberta is influenced by the Black Power Movement and its militant advocacy for racial pride, economic empowerment and the creation of political and cultural organizations. Today, we have Black Lives Matter. Roberta was inspired by Shirley Chisholm’s bid for the presidency in 1972. It didn't matter that she had no chance of winning. Chisholm’s decision to campaign made Roberta stand up straighter and buy into the possibilities of the American dream, which said anyone can grow up to be president. Today, Kamala Harris's selection as a serious vice presidential contender inspires both Black and brown girls across the globe. As a young teen, Roberta is aware of racial strife in Philadelphia and protests against Mayor Frank Rizzo, a former police chief with a reputation for brutality in communities of color. Today, after the horrific death of George Floyd, protesters of all races and backgrounds protest and advocate for systemic changes in policing to ensure people of color are treated more fairly. Roberta grew up beneath the shadow of Watergate, a period in our history where presidential abuse and hypocrisy inflamed American cynicism toward political leaders. Currently our president is a polarizing figure who is accused of abusing his power and serves as the embodiment of hypocrisy. And finally, as a young teen, Roberta challenges American mythology when she calls Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite for owning slaves. In 2020, young people not only protest such mythology; they tear down its monuments. Forty-six years after we left Roberta’s world, echoes from it reverberate today as history repeats itself.
2. What contradictions are today’s teens seeing in their lives from adults? Teens today see adult hypocrisy on steroids from leaders, especially political, as they talk out of both sides of their mouths when it comes to the direction of this country. As a result, teens face a divided nation with an uncertain economy rocked by growing wealth disparity, crushing educational debt, and intense climate change, among other issues. Yet, some leaders continue to worship at the church of the ATM, refuse to address the student loan crisis, question science and abuse the planet with their policies.
3. Research shows young teens are abandoning religion, why do you think this is? Today’s teens are more likely to question their identity and define it on their own terms. A growing fluidity of gender and sexuality reflects this. I suspect this overall freedom of expression affects religion, too. The availability of information and exposure to diverse perspectives plays a role, too. Seeing organized religion sometimes used as a weapon or as a stepping stone to prosperity, or as a protector of sexual abusers who prey on juveniles, certainly doesn’t help. What we know for sure is that Generation Z is the least religious generation, according to Pew research. They are also more likely to have been raised without religion as this statistic has also climbed since the 1950s, a study found.
4. What are some key takeaways you hope readers walk away with? Truth matters. Speak up, question and challenge. It's more important today in the world of alternative facts. It's important that readers, especially younger ones, embrace the idea that it's okay to forgive those who hurt you deeply in order to heal and move away from suffering and anger. Hate is a heavy load to carry. I also want readers to love their families and themselves. Hard. Warts and all.
5. How is Philadelphia a character in the book? Philadelphia is a character because it is a city of contradictions. Known as the “City of Brotherly Love,” Philly’s many neighborhoods were mostly segregated in the 1970s. It was populated by scrappy people who were both equally sensitive and loyal. My hometown then felt like a big city with a small-town feel as no downtown building could be taller than the William Penn topper on City Hall. Home to the Liberty Bell, the Declaration of Independence, renowned cheesesteaks and Tastykakes, this city of firsts (public school, park, zoo andhospital) often was the butt of jokes going back to W.C. Fields. Litter and graffiti became a signature in a negative sense while the “Philadelphia sound” of soul music was among its positives. Philly today is still a character, although less gritty and more upscale with more than 3,000 murals, an effort launched in the 1980s to eradicate graffiti.
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