Podcast
The Daily Show: Ears Edition
The book was highlighted as a children's picture book that gave Black and brown kids role models they could see themselves in while teaching white children empathy, using real historic images like a 1960 Woolworth's sit‑in. Bakari Sellers introduced it and both Trevor Noah and John Stewart praised its blend of cultural pride and civil‑rights history, emphasizing that it was not critical race theory but rather essential learning. The discussion framed it as an important tool for representation and education, and the hosts recommended it enthusiastically.
Episode: Bakari Sellers - "Who Are Your People?"
It is a children's book written to allow young Black and brown children to see people who look like them and feel pride, while allowing white children to develop empathy. It includes historical imagery, such as a picture from a 1960 sit-in at a Woolworth's lunch counter, to teach about the past.
I wrote this book because I wanted, personally, I was sick and tired of my twins having to see purple people or blue people on TV. I wanted them to be able to see people that look like them
And I think when young black and brown kids read it, they'll get a sense of pride. When white kids read it, they'll get a sense of empathy.
And then I started reading through it and then I was like, wow, it's a kid's book. But I mean, there's parts of the book where, you know, black people are sitting at like the lunch counter and they're just getting shouted at and there's signs that say no knee grows, et cetera. And I was like, wow, this is one hell of a children's book.
Well that image that you're talking about is one of my two favorite images. It's actually a real image from February 1st, 1960 at the Woolworth's lunch counter where students from North Carolina and the State University kicked off the sit-in movement. And I wanted to have that history and those lessons in the book.
It's absolutely not critical race theory, but it's getting caught up in all of this other anti-intellectual BS is the best way that I can phrase it because what's wrong with kids learning about who they are? What's wrong with kids learning about where other kids came from and being proud of that?
Episode: Bakari Sellers - "Who Are Your People?"
It is a children's book that aims to help young children, especially Black and brown children, develop a sense of pride in their heritage and build empathy in other children. The book includes historical images, such as one from the 1960 sit-in movement at a lunch counter.
Now this is my second book. It's my second opportunity to be on the New York Times best sellers list.
I wanted them to be able to see people that look like them, like the movie in Kanto for example. And in this book they're able to see them and their people and have a sense of pride.
And I started reading through it and then I was like, wow, it's a kid's book, but I mean there's parts of the book where, you know, black people are sitting at like the lunch counter and they're just getting shouted at in the signs that say no Negroes, etc. And I was like, wow, this is one hell of a children's book.
It's actually a real image from February 1st, 1960 at the World War's Lunch Counter where students from North Carolina Antestate University kicked off the sit-in movement. And I wanted to have that history and those lessons in the book.
What's wrong with kids learning about who they are? What's wrong with kids learning about where other kids came from and being proud of that?
Episode: Cities Are Running Out of Burial Space | Bakari Se...
It is a children's book that shows children who look like them and aims to instill pride in young Black and brown children and empathy in white children. It includes images from the Civil Rights movement, such as a photograph from a sit-in at a Woolworth's lunch counter.
I wrote this book because I wanted, personally, I was sick and tired of my twins having to see purple people or blue people on TV.
And in this book, they're able to see them and their people and have a sense of pride. And I think when young black and brown kids read it, they'll get a sense of pride. When white kids read it, they'll get a sense of empathy.
It's actually a real image from February 1st, 1960 at the Woolworth's lunch counter where students from North Carolina A&T state universities kicked off the sit-in movement.
But yeah, I mean, people are, they're banning Michelle Obama's books in Texas right now. I mean, you know, people are talking about this book, a picture book being critical race theory.
It's absolutely not critical race theory, but is getting caught up in all of this, this utter anti-intellectual BS is the best way that I can phrase it because what's wrong with kids learning about who they are?