i just got done interviewing kwame alexander for my heart of it/creating children’s books that matter. i CANNOT adequately express how much i love my job!
one of many beautiful take aways was what kwame called ‘dancing naked on the floor.’ it is the title of one of his poems and a line from a nikki giovanni poem (who i’m also highlighting, although not interviewing for the course).
‘dancing naked’ speaks to being authentic first within yourself. kwame shares that when you establish an ownership of your own voice and it’s belonging in the world, you create the possibility of that for others. so that when he allows others to witness him metaphorically ‘dancing naked on the floor’ either through his books or his teaching in person, he establishes a trust with his readers and his students that it’s ok to be exactly who you are inside and outside. this creates the perfect ground for VOICE to come through…and be heard.
rock on kwame!!! he’s got 8 books coming out in the next 4 years with NO END in sight! kwame’s got VOICE. he’s got much that we can learn from and he’s out there teaching it! thank you again kwame!