Second-grade teacher, Stephanie Fleary, breathes life into the statement, ‘a teacher’s job is never done.’ During black history month one of Fleary’s students, a 7 year old, informed her that she was not happy with her darker skin tone.
“Everyone in her family was lighter than her and she despised her dark skin. As a woman with a darker skin tone, I knew that colorism was an issue that needed to be discussed, even at this early age. I knew I had to find a way to teach my students to love and believe in themselves, no matter what shade of brown they are. I wanted to create something that would last beyond this classroom discussion. And voila, Chocolatey Brown was born,†said Fleary.
[Related: Cool Jobs: How Global Actress and Author Esosa E Paves Her Own Lane in a Creative Career]
Fleary, a first-generation Grenadian-American, has worked in education for over ten years.
“I’ve always had a passion for writing, but never imagined that I would become a self-published author. When I became a mother in 2007, my life’s purpose began to take form and my vision became clearer. I realized I was created to be a mother, an educator, and service provider for others. I accomplished two of the three so I was intrigued to discover how God would use me to serve others. In 2013, I published my first book, Dear Black Man, and started my personal development training company, Empowered Stilettos. Through my work with my son, students, and clients, I have found my purpose and aspire everyday to fulfill my destiny.â€
Since most children will be home from school for summer break, the timing couldn’t be better to add Chocolatey Brown to a child’s reading list. BlackEnterprise.com caught up with Fleary for tips on teaching children to embrace their brown skin.
Continue reading on the next page…