So a parent has filed a complaint w their school district for using FRONT DESK on the grounds that it is teaching anti-racism. The other parents emailed & asked me to respond. Here’s my response: Reading about the lived experiences of immigrants and people of color is important.

Our experiences matter. We matter. The purpose of school is to prepare kids for the world so they can grow up to be responsible adults and help change the world. How are they going to change it if they don’t understand what people from all walks of life are going through?

Also it breaks my heart that someone would use my personal accomplishments as some kind of justification against the racism that exists in our country. In my humble opinion, the path forward for our nation is not to live in denial of what many people are going through

But to understand, have empathy, affect change. I’m sorry I’m not able to respond more articulately right now as my mom is in the hospital, but it is my sincere hope that books like FRONT DESK and THREE KEYS give kids windows and mirrors...so the window to our future is BRIGHTER!