![]() ![]() ![]() I have seen most people go about this using the book “Chrysanthemum” by Kevin Henkes. As teachers, librarians, or parents, we need to make space to empower students to claim their name. This is a journey that many of our students know. Now, after much racial healing, I go by “Kaitlin Kamalei” (well, unfortunately, most people still say “Kaitlin” because it’s “easier” to pronounce). As soon as we moved to Washington, it was just “Kaitlin” since I quickly (and unjustly) learned that my American name meant I would get only half the teasing I endured for my racial identity. When I was little, it was “Kaitlin” or “Kamalei”. Growing up, the name I went by was always a good indicator of how I felt about my identity. As names hold such an importance in our lives, it is important that we hold space in our classrooms, homes, and libraries to talk to children about them. When we see a child, one of the first questions we ask is, “What’s their name?” Names are also what adults typically introduce ourselves with. They are what teachers see when handed their class list for the first time. ![]() Our names are often our first identifiers. ![]()
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