Stand Against Racism event: Author Cynthia Yancey reads from ‘Zak & Niki’ at Spellbound

On Saturday, April 25, at Spellbound Children’s Bookshop in Woodfin, local author Cynthia Yancey will read from her new book Zak and Niki: A First Look at Rising above Racism. The reading is one of many events featured in the YWCA of Asheville’s Stand Against Racism events — a national YWCA initiative that aims to bring “people together from all walks of life to raise awareness that racism still exists and that it can no longer be ignored or toleratedhos wind to a close.”

Yancey says its possible to “chip … away at racial health disparities by getting to children at a very young age, before malicious negative attitudes of racism develop.” Her book tells the tale of “a Southern family’s first encounter with biracial relationship [and] the mother’s response, guided by her belief in the innate goodness of all children. Zak and Niki is about simply and freely rising above the social shackles of racism.”

Here’s more info on the event:

Spellbound Children’s Bookshop
50 North Merrimon Avenue #107
Shops at Reynolds Village
Asheville, NC 28787

11:00 to 11:30, Saturday, April 25
In conjunction with the YWCA Stand Against Racism, Spellbound Children’s Bookshop will create an in-store display of books featuring characters of diverse races and ethnicities. On April 25th at 11a.m. Saturday morning story time (for ages 3-7 years) will focus on diversity and there will be giveaways of Stand Against Racism buttons and stickers. http://www.spellboundbookshop.com
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About Margaret Williams
Editor Margaret Williams first wrote for Xpress in 1994. An Alabama native, she has lived in Western North Carolina since 1987 and completed her Masters of Liberal Arts & Sciences from UNC-Asheville in 2016. Follow me @mvwilliams

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