I Did not ask to be born black. i just got lucky.
Written and Illustrated by Shirley Jackson Whitaker MD MPH
"My skin, glistening like a panther's coat. Making me so elegant and proud that I have to gloat. I Am Lucky!"
I Did Not Ask to Be Born Black. I Just Got Lucky is a full-color, 26-page hardcover children’s book written and illustrated by Shirley Jackson Whitaker, MD, MPH. Created from Dr. Whitaker’s desire to celebrate the beauty of Black girls, Lucky introduces a young girl who takes pride in the very features the world has too often taught Black girls to question—her skin, her hair, her eyes, her nose, her lips, and ultimately, herself.
Although Lucky is Dr. Whitaker’s first children’s book, she is no stranger to the arts. A physician and accomplished visual artist, her creative work spans painting, printmaking, film, and storytelling. A book of her etchings is held in the Rare Book and Special Collections Division of the Library of Congress.
In 2020, New England Public Media (NEPM) featured Lucky as the first book selected for that year’s annual Books for Young People series, highlighting its message of helping Black girls develop positive self-images and celebrating their beauty.
At its heart, Lucky is about more than one little girl. It is an invitation for children, parents, and educators to talk about identity, representation, confidence, and the meaning of beauty—and to remind Black girls that the qualities that make them who they are are worthy of pride and celebration.
“I’m proud of who I am.” That was the goal in creating Lucky.
"Lucky is a book dedicated to celebrating the beauty in African girls and to promoting their positive self-image. Parents and educators of all races, ethnicities, and cultures are encouraged to read Lucky with their girls and engage in a discussion afterwards on the true definition of beauty as it relates to ALL girls, especially those of African descent."
Dr. Vanessa L. Whitaker
Education Consultant
Special Thanks
Francis White, Ph.D. Ed., Joshua Whitaker, Michael Kuch
Publishing
First Edition Published by SAW Press, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002
About the book
Lucky is a hardback full-color, 8.5" X 11" book with 26 pages illustrated by Shirley Jackson Whitaker, MD MPH who is also the book's author. Lucky will engage its readers and it is priced at $24 plus Shipping/Handling. All proceeds will benefit the Shirley Jackson Whitaker Foundation.
ISBN 978-0-578-55490-7
$24 (Plus S/H)
Ships within 7 - 14 business days.