April 28, 2024 • 32 mins
On the occasion of his 100th Podcast, Malik looks back on what has brought him to this moment, as well as this week’s visit from Ryan Seacrest and 102.7 KIIS-FM.
Plus, in honor of Independent Bookstore Day, Malik welcomes Dr. Thomishia Booker, author of the children’s books Brown Boy Joy and My Brown Skin!
E-mail: RealMalikMuhammad@gmail.com
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
My League Books has all the knowledge you want. My
league has all the knowledge you need. Legs, yet they
have all the books that.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
The whole wild world one up read.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
My League Books.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome to Malak's Bookshelf, Bringing a world together
with Books, Culture and community.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Hi, my name is Malik.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
You're host of Malik's Bookshelf. Let me let you in
on a secret. I do my introduction every single time,
and what I mean by the introduction is that welcome
to Malik's Bookshelf, bringing a world together with books, culture
and community. That introduction when I introduced my title of
(00:48):
the podcast and my name. I typically do that every
single time instead of just recording it and slicing it
in as the introduction. But anyway, that's a little secreting
about the podcast. But another milestone point that I need
to mention. This is the one hundred episode. Let me
(01:11):
say that again, and if you're listening to this, I
need you to clap and shop. This is the one
hundred episode. Milestone huge a brainstorm. I wanted it to
be the right episode. I wanted to have the right title.
I wanted it to have the right content.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
This is the one hundred episode.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
What I'm gonna talk about, what's gonna be my subject matter,
who I'm gonna interview. Sometimes, you know, you got to
just get out of your own way and let it
happen naturally and all again.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Sometimes we can plot and plan, and we can develop
and what have you.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
But a lot of what I do on this podcast,
and so again, a lot of what I do is
interview authors about their book without questions, without script. A
lot of what I do on this podcast talk about books, community,
talk about culture. So I'm sitting around here for weeks
(02:19):
and weeks trying to figure out and the most unusual.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Has placed.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
An idea came to me organically, was in the restroom. Now,
if you ain't up on them, spiritual baths, bubble baths, ows, fragrances,
meditation music, then I tell you it's more special and
it's healing. And you get up early in the morning,
(02:50):
like four five in the morning, you know, take a
spiritual bath, you say some informations, you try to go
on to spiritual meditation. It's just devoting time to yourself
to heal yourself and think about yourself and reinforce yourself.
And through that process, I'm trying to block out everything,
(03:14):
and it's very difficult because all these things trying to
come at you while you're trying to just be silent
and block out everything and just have a moment of
peace and tranquility so I can get into the realm
of manifestation.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Right. But in that process of me trying to throw everything.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Out, sometimes some things come to you that you need
to receive.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
You know, our brains is a receiver as well, just.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Like that television and the programming comes right through the
TV where your brain is like that, and it's a
receiver as well as a transmitter, and sometimes you need
to be ready to received. And in that spiritual bath,
in that very moment, it came to me a title,
(04:06):
Why I Do what I Do? That's don't beat my
title for the one hundred episode, Why I Do what
I Do? And I always say children are one hundred
percent of our future, and so what I was able
(04:28):
to pull together for this episode one hundred episode is
the title why I do what I do. I'm the
heart man of books. That's right, this is Malie. Been
doing this since nineteen thirty.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
I developed along the way.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I'm not the same person I was thirty years ago.
This is not the same business as it was thirty
years ago.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
We changed. We because that's what that means. I'm better.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
I'm boulder, I'm more electric, I'm more knowledgeable, I'm more energetic.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
I'm more passionate. I'm more committed.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
I'm more cultural, I'm more community relevant.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
I can go on and on, but the point is I.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Have changed, I have evolved, and I think I'm more special.
I'm more magnetic, I'm more energetic. That's why I'm the
hype man of books. No one wraps it up more
than me, No more hypes it up more than me,
no more enthusiastic and exciting when it comes to books.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
This is mine e more. This is my brand. This
is what separates me from everyone else.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Why I do what I do is because I love
what I do.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
I'm passionate of what I do. And this is why.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I have a podcast and I'm on one hundred episode
because other people like Ron Seacrest and his team saw
something in me and invested in me.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
And I'm grateful for that.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I never saw myself as a podcast Everybody is doing podcasting.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
I have been blessed and fortunate to have.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Thousands and thousands and thousands of downloads since starting the podcast.
I'm blessed to be on one of the greatest, if
not the greatest, platform that host podcasts.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
I Heart Radio. That's right.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
People ask me all the time, well, where can I
find your podcast? Well, first of all, you can listen
to Malie Bookshelf on wherever you listen to any podcast,
but it's.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Hosted on iHeartRadio. That's an honor listen.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I never saw myself as a podcasting and I believe
personally it has helped.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Me to engage with the community. Even better, it has
helped me.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
To talk to authors and interview them because I'd like
to interview them gonna get me.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
In most cases, it has involved me into hosting book
signings where I'm the moderator.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I did a moderation with pastor podcaster Tim Ross, got
a huge following, and I was engaged in the moderation
on his new book called Welcome to the Basement, An
OtherSide Down Guide to Greatness. I featured that episode and
interview on one of my podcasts episodes. It has helped
(07:42):
me to gain confidence, which is very important because some
of these people I gotta interviewed on this last episode
Let's Go, it was Tiffany Hattish, right, So just standing
there talking to her, not being intimidated, having confidence, that's important. Listen,
nowhere near on the scale and level where some of
(08:02):
these people are. But when I meet Spike League, who
I interviewed from the podcast, or Central the entertainer where
I get a chance to talk to, I'm not nervous.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
I feel like I'm no different than them.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
And I don't let the stars study position and wealth
that they all have intimidate me and lack confidence because
without confidence, it's everything.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
That's what I like.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Growing up and over the years I've had to push
myself in areas where I was nervous or shy and
petrified and introverted, where I had to come out of
that shell and be engaging.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
And the books helped me. People in my life helped me.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
This podcast has helped me gain the confidence where I'm
able to be.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Malik two point oh. This is why I do what
I do.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Listen, No one gets to where they need to go
or it's going without that comfort and aid and direction
and push from other people. And I've had a lot
of people in my life to guide me even when
I didn't want to be guided to help me even
though I didn't want to be helped. That's the way
(09:23):
the world works.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
And I'm now.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
On one hundred episode and I'm a podcaster, I'm a
ghost owner, I'm a former track Olympian, I'm a business owner, entrepreneur, father,
a husband, and most importantly, I'm very handsome. Hey, you
gotta have a sense of humor. That's what life is
all about.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Smiling, laughing.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
That brings your joy and it keeps you younger and youthful.
This is why I do what I do, because I
enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I believe this is my calling.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
I didn't always believe that, but I know that to
be the case because the synergy and the energy and
the forces all around me has put me.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
In this position. And now I know why I do
what I do. Now are you ready for this? Are
you ready for this?
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Guess who came to the neighborhood this Thursday and visited
Malik Books. Now, this was an honor, This was magnetic,
this was electric, This was a blessing. He could have
chose to go to any place he wanted, but he
(10:43):
chose Malite Books.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
He chose to make us part of his riding tour.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Hundred and twenty years on Kiss FM Radio one O
two point seven Kiss FM.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Let's give it up for Ryan Seeks and.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
The Morning Teen, selecting Militue Books as one of the
stops for his twentieth anniversary owned Kiss FM. Ryan Seacress
is one of the most dynamic entertainers in the industry.
He's a producer and an electric host on television on radio.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
He's so successful.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
And he came to Malague Books and embraced Malique himself.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
He treated me with love and grace and honor.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
It was the most embracing moment that I can remember
in such a long time, and I was very honored
and appreciative. We took pictures, we laughed, we hugged, we
said we love each other.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
And but let me tell you this.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
They came and gave away one thousand dollars to the community.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Someone won a.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Thousand dollars from Kiss FM at Malite Books.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
That's huge. That's huge. They did a rifle and looked like.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
She was about eleven years old and she had the
winning ticket.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
One thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Ryn Secret of the Morning Team also sponsored one hundred
and two twenty dollars gift cars to buy books.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
At Malikue Books. And let me tell you, it was
pot They was waiting in the line. They were screaming.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
When he came up to escalator to walk into Malik Books.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
They was shouting Ryan, Ryan rolling. That's right. Listen.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Community embraced Ryan inside of Milk Books. I walked side
by side, shoulder and shoulder as we greeted all the
people inside of milik But we.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Filled that out.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
We gave away one hundred and two twenty dollars gift
cars and someone.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Won a thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
All is sponsored by Kiss FM Ron Seacrest Morning Show.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
This was unprecedented. I've never had.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
A giveaway like this inside of Elite Books, so I
was honored.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
I was just blessed. It was amazing.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
And you know my podcast Leak's Bookshow in the World
together with books, culture and community, Well this was that
type of event inside of Elk Books April twenty fifth,
where we gave away one thousand dollars. We gave away
give cards to the community, buy books, a blessings upon,
(13:39):
blessings upon blessed. That's community, that's cultural, that's books. Come on, man,
this is why I do what I do. I love
what I do and I do it with a passion.
And this particular weekend was also Independent Bookstore Date this Saturday,
(14:03):
April twenty seven, and so we hosted Tamisha Booker, doctor
to Misha Booker.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Let me get it right, let me get it tight.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
You go to school, you get a doctorate, you need
to be honored as such. Doctor Tomsha Booker, who has
a publishing company called Hey Carter Books and wrote a
book called Brown Boy Joy. We featured her at Malik
Books this Saturday, April twenty seventh. She came through as
our honored guests for Independent Bookstore Day. Just don't stop
(14:34):
and it won't stop because I do what I do.
And it was amazing to celebrate independent bookstore. The inside
of Malite Books is one party and it's all nationwide.
All the independent bookstores are celebrating at their locations. We
had music, we had snacks, we had books, we had
(14:57):
doctor Tamisha Booker.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
It was enough, a powerful day, powerful.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Week Independent Bookstore Day, Malite Books in the Westfield, Covid
City Mall and ball and Hills Crenshaw Mall. I'm just honored.
I'm just grateful that community shows up when Elite host events.
Next up May seventh, Ladarian Williams and I'm gonna be
(15:23):
the moderator.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
That's right, the.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Hype man of books. His book, Ladamian Williams wrote is
called Blood at the Root. Come through May seventh, seven pm.
Elite Books, Westfield, Covid City Mall. We're gonna be discussing
magic power and guess what the main character of the
book is Milk.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
So I'm gonna moderate.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
We're gonna be talking about magic, fantasy, adventure, sci fi
because that's what that book is all about. It's gonna
be electric, it's gonna be powerful. We're gonna have conversations.
We're gonna have a book signing. Go tomlitebooks dot com.
You got an RSVP and on May fifteenth, time to
be announced.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
But we got Shanie Henderson.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Now she used to be married to Shaq and she's
the mother of all his kids.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
She has a new book called Undefeated.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Gonna have a discussion, We're gonna have a book signer
and guess what.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
She's the producer of a show called Basketball Wife.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
And if they gonna be filming in sign Elk Books, Listen,
it's gonna be featured on one of the episodes on
Basketball Wives Shanie Henderson.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
At Malik Books May fifteenth.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Time to be announced, but go to Melite books dot
com get more details. You know you're gonna have to
R's and fe you know it's gonna be limited Seaton.
It's going down all at Melite Books and guess what,
you know, I'm gonna try to interview Shannie. You know
I'm gonna be already interviewing Ladarian Williams Blood at the Root.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
So hey, you gotta keep listening. You gotta keep toning
into Mileak Books.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
You need to keep continue to follow us on our
social media and if you need to email, email me
at real Malik Muhammad at gmail dot com. Well, stay
tuned for this upcoming episode because it's the one hundred episode.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Why I do what I do.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Welcome, Walcome, Welcome to Malik's bookshelf, bringing a world together
with books, culture and community. I have a guest today
and it's independent bookstore. Dank give it up.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
We got we got some.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Folks in Malik Books on independent books no day.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Thank you for coming by. This is important without independent books.
I know That's how I got started and it was
self published independent authors. Is how Malik Books got started
back in nineteen ninety. All these books that you see
in here, with all them one published like it is today.
It's only because of your buying power that all the
(18:03):
mainstream publishers are publishing our voice.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
We like to say, I'm lead books.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
We get voice to the voiceless.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
So Hey, thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Now we're gonna turn this conversation to my beloved sister.
She got a publishing company called Hey Carter Books. This
particular book here, Brown Boy Joyce she got about sixteen.
But Brown Boy joy has been the one that has
blown up. Let's give a round of applause to Misha Booker.
(18:43):
So no one can tell you more about that book
than the authors. So let's get right into it. Tell
us about this wonderful book that you wrote, Brown Boy Jorge.
Speaker 5 (18:54):
Yes, So Brown Boy joy is inspired by my son Carter.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
The whole brand is inspired.
Speaker 6 (18:59):
By my son Carter, now my daughter truly.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
And so as a child, I grew up with a
lot of anti blackness in my home. I was raised
by a biracial mother and a white grandmother, and so
I heard a lot of hurtful things about my skin color, my.
Speaker 6 (19:12):
Hair, my facial features.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
And so when I wrote this book, I wanted my
son to have something that would be empowering so you
can see themselves. But really my books are letters to
my inner child. I write all the things that I
wish were around and wish I.
Speaker 6 (19:26):
Needed to hear growing up.
Speaker 5 (19:27):
And so inside Brown Boy Joy you will find all
the things little brown boys love, from gardening to being
in space, to playing with trucks and just paying with
their friends and just highlighting all the joy. And when
little black boys see this book, I want them to
find themselves.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
On the pages.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
I know that they are loved and cared for and
cherished and respected. And yes, this is just a little
piece of my heart that is into the world.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
You know what, My introduction was short and it didn't
encompass her academical Now this is doctor Tumisian, doctor Tomsia Hooker,
all right, she paid a price to have that di
to make sure I mentioned that, And what what is it?
Speaker 4 (20:12):
An education?
Speaker 5 (20:13):
So I am a life and social worker, have a
master's in social work.
Speaker 6 (20:16):
I have a doctor education health and psychology.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
So a lot of my books are rooted in black psychology,
especially when books serve as counter messages to the negative
narratives that.
Speaker 6 (20:25):
We hear in the world, and so we.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
Need these as tools and schools and homes so our
children know that their place is wherever they are.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
They can thrive and.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Grow when you know everyone, I've been nicknamed the Height
Man of Books, Mali the Height Man of Books, and
I just want you to know I'm featuring it for
my one hundred episode coming up, dim it Up one
hundred episode or Malie's Books Show bringing a world together
(20:57):
with books, culture and Kummer.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Now I never saw much as a podcaster.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
I can't thank Royan Cacris, Kiss FM, iHeartRadio his team
for staring me in this direction as a podcaster. This
is my one hundred episode, and I think this is
a wonderful one because we're talking about representation, and this
is one of the reasons why I'm in the industry
is because it was a lack of representation and books.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
Matter, reading matters, you know, and we have to start
without you.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
It talked to me about why it's important that we
start early because most of your sixteen books, I'm assuming
our children books, so talk to us about that.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
Yeah, I mean, I think when people think of representation,
it's more than just yes, the exposure. But I see
it from a safety perspective. I think when books are
in schools, it lets our children know that this is
the space for them, that they're meant to be there.
They can see themselves, and that means that they know
that reading is for them and education is for them.
And when you don't see yourself inside of books or
(21:58):
in a world, you know it's meant for you.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
And so when we have.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
Black books with written by black authors sharing a black narrative,
it reinforces that messages and letting our children know that
this space is for them, those books are for them.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
And so I mean you guys, you're own publishing because
he Carter hate Carter Books.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
You write a lot of books dealing with representation.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Brown Boy Joy, which I'm holding up and we're doing
the book signing right here today Independent Bookstore Day at
Malik Books.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Westfield, Kobe City Mall.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
And youven wrote about it, like I said, sixteen of them.
And so what drives you, what continues to move you forward?
You know, I know what drives me at Molik Books.
I know what drives me is the hype man of books.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
For what drives you definitely my children, you know, when
I look at their faces, I'm reminded of all the
other children.
Speaker 6 (22:50):
Who definitely need these books as well, and.
Speaker 5 (22:52):
Just future generations again that safety issue, making sure that
black children for futures know that we got them, we
love them as a place for them. And you know,
just walking into Moleek Books, it feels like black children
should be here, This is a space for them. It
feels love, it feels comfortable. You know, if you walk
into a bookstore and.
Speaker 6 (23:10):
You don't see yourself on the shelves, then why why
are you gonna read?
Speaker 4 (23:12):
You know, read the books.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
So all of my books have affirmations in them. They
really speak life into children. I want children to walk
away feeling, you know, just rooted and who they are
and standing in there their purpose and helping them to
cultivate a positive inner voice. So yeah, I'm mostly also
driven by, just like I said, my inner child. You know,
I speak to and tap into her as much as
(23:34):
possible to make sure that she knows she's loved and chairs.
Speaker 4 (23:38):
So yes, I.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
Didn't drop the book with the showbus go on, It's
not over because I dropped a book but thats just
said that how.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
Important that book is. You know, I grew up with
a lot of self esteem. I grew up not loving.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Mylf and it's only through books. Like I always tell
you why you get in the book business. I had
a degree from USC but I didn't have a knowledge yourself.
And part of that is loving yourself, accepting yourself. In
order to be yourself, you got to love yourself.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
And I know that the way I thought.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
And the things I used to say, I didn't grow
up with a representative books that talked about our experiences
looked like me in the book. The first thing a
child look for in a picture is themselves.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
And when you don't see yourself, man.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
I can remember all the years I gave greeting cards
to my mom with all kinds of other people on there,
because it wasn't no black greeting cars. You know, and
it's so important. And you know you have your doctorate
you in education. Did the book come out before you
had your doctorate or did you get your doctorate first
(24:58):
and education and then as it spin off to evolve.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Your brand, you wrote these books. Yeah, so education.
Speaker 5 (25:07):
In my home, I think my mother kind of you know,
drove home the message of you need to go to college,
mad Sri, go to college, and so I kind of
was on this track of, well, I'm just gonna go
to college and kind of figure it out.
Speaker 6 (25:18):
So I wanted to choose a.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
Degree that I thought was gonna be needed for a
long time longevity, so I would to psychology.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
Have figured a computer can't.
Speaker 6 (25:26):
Replace me, So that's why I kind of chose that.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
And I think with a lot of other the to
all professionals, when you come from a hurt place, you
want to, you know, give that back to the community.
But I had already had my doctorate and my master's
when I wrote the book. It was actually when I
was pregnant with my son. It was a very dark
time me coming into motherhood, that transition. I was not
really sure how that was gonna change me. I was
(25:51):
a career woman and felt like I didn't want to
be slowed down and it was just a lot. And
so during that transition is when I turned to writing.
It was a creative outlet to express myself. And then
when I found out I was having a son, a
black son, so he's gonna need tools, and I want
to be able to create things. So it was kind
of a cathartic experience to be able to transition into
(26:12):
motherhood and.
Speaker 6 (26:13):
Give him, you know, this beautiful gift.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
And when I first started writing books, I had no
idea what I was doing.
Speaker 6 (26:20):
It was just my gift to my son and to
the world.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
And I'm so glad that I chose it because's actually
a nice compliment with my education background.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Absolutely, And you know, you travel the nation, you put
on workshops.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
Can you tell us a little about these workshops.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
Yes, So the workshops have really been a good merge
of my clinical skills and.
Speaker 6 (26:42):
Also being an author.
Speaker 5 (26:44):
And my main goal in the workshops is to help
children cultivate a positive innervoice and just feel good and
be able to know how to speak to themselves. I
talk a lot about how powerful the brain is and
that the messages you put inside of your brain those
really mad. So today we let a workshop on planting
at the Kannunga Park Library and all the attendees planted.
Speaker 6 (27:08):
Their own Basically, they gave life to their words.
Speaker 5 (27:11):
They had seated paper, they wrote affirmations on those they
planted them, and really talked about how there's power in
our words and the things that you say to yourself.
They matter, And you know, I think as adults we
may know that skills.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
So I'm really.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
Focused on helping our young children learn that and be
able to take that with them throughout their life.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Well, you talk about these affirmations, you talk about these words.
We grew up with a lot of nursery rhymes that
would very devastate and destructive towards like steaks and stones
might break my moon, but words will never hurt me.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
How many times words.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Have killed you, destroyed you, diminished you, you hate yourself?
Speaker 4 (27:48):
You know? Words are powerful?
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Yes, And we have to speak into existence what we
want in this world and manifests what we want in
this world. And we got to be careful what we
teach our young A lot of these things that we're
teaching and passing on, it's like we're passing on to
the next gend the trauma not knowing better. You know,
we you're responsible what you know. And I didn't grow
(28:13):
up with these books. We hope that the next generation,
because which is one of it's in our future, will.
Speaker 7 (28:19):
Take books like your books hate black black boy, I
mean brown boy joy will take books like this and
evolve and.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Change, break the cycle, break the generational cycle.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
And so.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Man, I applaud you for doing your part. I'm doing
my part by being a bookstore owner. And what I mean,
any plans for this turning into animation a series on
TV talk to us about the future of your brand.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
Yeah, I have definitely spoke out loud and I'm a
really very manifestation and just saying out loud what I want.
So definitely have said out loud many times that I
see this as an animated series. If you look at cartoons,
you don't see black boys in the front, and that's
completely problematic.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
You know.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
That's another reason why I wrote these books is because
I saw on the shows that black boys weren't really there.
Speaker 4 (29:19):
And even a lot.
Speaker 5 (29:20):
Of times when I'm selling my books, people will say, oh, yeah,
something for girls, and I'm like, I do see the need,
and I definitely understand why black girls need to be
front and center. But when you aside from your bookstore,
of course, but when you're in typical bookstores, you're not
seeing black boys.
Speaker 6 (29:33):
Front and center.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
So I am manifesting, you know, a animated series where
a black boy is in the front and shining, and
you are seeing him living his life, his happiness.
Speaker 6 (29:45):
His joy for the world to see.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
So that's definitely when I had these books in mind
where I see.
Speaker 4 (29:51):
It going, well, that's wonderful, and you're right, we have
to you know.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
I mean it was a book out called Conspiracy Destroyed
Black Boys by doctor Juwanza can Chu f You? And basically,
you know, he pointed out as a in his doctor
and his degree and his education that black boys are
under assaw and are being destroyed at a very age.
They run them away from mathematics and they make math.
(30:19):
They teaching a way to make them not like math.
When math is at the root of every civilization. Math
is at the root of nation building. There is no
civilization without engineering and science.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
There's no growth.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
And if we running away our young, are you away
from math?
Speaker 4 (30:40):
What future were we heard? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (30:44):
You know, black boys grow up to be feared as men.
You know, black boys are seen as more aggressive, their
emotions are misunderstood, They are giving harsh for punishments than
their counterparts. And you know, even my son as early
as two years old was seen as his age appropriate
play and.
Speaker 6 (31:03):
Behavior was seen as aggressive. And you know that's really problematic.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
And then you kind of have that preschool to to
to jail pipeline.
Speaker 6 (31:12):
You know, the prins of pipeline.
Speaker 5 (31:14):
And so it's really important to me that black boys
know that they are loved and cared for.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
And valued and value and we matter.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
We matter, and our black sisters and black children and
black young women matter. But we definitely have to put
emphasis and I appreciate that on black boys, brown boys,
because without.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
Our men and our children, our future is dismal.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
And so I want to take this opportunity to thank
you for your contribution to the upliftment of the next generation,
because that's our future and of our future.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
So thank you, thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Tell the people how they can reach you and follow
you and keep in touch with the moves that you're making.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
Yes yes so On all social media platforms, it's Hay
Carter Books on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and also online at
haycarterbooks dot com.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
Bingo, bingo, thank you. I don't want to mess up
your name. Doctor to.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Me your book the doctor, but doctor to mess your book.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
Thanks for listening to Malak's bookshelf with topics on the
shelf are books, culture and community.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Be sure to subscribe and leave me a review. Check
out my Instagram at Malak Books. See you next time.
My League Books has all the knowledge you want. My
league has all the knowledge you need. Legs, yet they
have all the books that.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
The whole wild world one up read.
Speaker 1 (00:10):
My League Books.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Welcome, Welcome, Welcome to Malak's Bookshelf, Bringing a world together
with Books, Culture and community.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
Hi, my name is Malik.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
You're host of Malik's Bookshelf. Let me let you in
on a secret. I do my introduction every single time,
and what I mean by the introduction is that welcome
to Malik's Bookshelf, bringing a world together with books, culture
and community. That introduction when I introduced my title of
(00:48):
the podcast and my name. I typically do that every
single time instead of just recording it and slicing it
in as the introduction. But anyway, that's a little secreting
about the podcast. But another milestone point that I need
to mention. This is the one hundred episode. Let me
(01:11):
say that again, and if you're listening to this, I
need you to clap and shop. This is the one
hundred episode. Milestone huge a brainstorm. I wanted it to
be the right episode. I wanted to have the right title.
I wanted it to have the right content.
Speaker 1 (01:34):
This is the one hundred episode.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
What I'm gonna talk about, what's gonna be my subject matter,
who I'm gonna interview. Sometimes, you know, you got to
just get out of your own way and let it
happen naturally and all again.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Sometimes we can plot and plan, and we can develop
and what have you.
Speaker 2 (01:55):
But a lot of what I do on this podcast,
and so again, a lot of what I do is
interview authors about their book without questions, without script. A
lot of what I do on this podcast talk about books, community,
talk about culture. So I'm sitting around here for weeks
(02:19):
and weeks trying to figure out and the most unusual.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Has placed.
Speaker 2 (02:27):
An idea came to me organically, was in the restroom. Now,
if you ain't up on them, spiritual baths, bubble baths, ows, fragrances,
meditation music, then I tell you it's more special and
it's healing. And you get up early in the morning,
(02:50):
like four five in the morning, you know, take a
spiritual bath, you say some informations, you try to go
on to spiritual meditation. It's just devoting time to yourself
to heal yourself and think about yourself and reinforce yourself.
And through that process, I'm trying to block out everything,
(03:14):
and it's very difficult because all these things trying to
come at you while you're trying to just be silent
and block out everything and just have a moment of
peace and tranquility so I can get into the realm
of manifestation.
Speaker 1 (03:31):
Right. But in that process of me trying to throw everything.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Out, sometimes some things come to you that you need
to receive.
Speaker 1 (03:42):
You know, our brains is a receiver as well, just.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Like that television and the programming comes right through the
TV where your brain is like that, and it's a
receiver as well as a transmitter, and sometimes you need
to be ready to received. And in that spiritual bath,
in that very moment, it came to me a title,
(04:06):
Why I Do what I Do? That's don't beat my
title for the one hundred episode, Why I Do what
I Do? And I always say children are one hundred
percent of our future, and so what I was able
(04:28):
to pull together for this episode one hundred episode is
the title why I do what I do. I'm the
heart man of books. That's right, this is Malie. Been
doing this since nineteen thirty.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
I developed along the way.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
I'm not the same person I was thirty years ago.
This is not the same business as it was thirty
years ago.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
We changed. We because that's what that means. I'm better.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
I'm boulder, I'm more electric, I'm more knowledgeable, I'm more energetic.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
I'm more passionate. I'm more committed.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
I'm more cultural, I'm more community relevant.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
I can go on and on, but the point is I.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
Have changed, I have evolved, and I think I'm more special.
I'm more magnetic, I'm more energetic. That's why I'm the
hype man of books. No one wraps it up more
than me, No more hypes it up more than me,
no more enthusiastic and exciting when it comes to books.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
This is mine e more. This is my brand. This
is what separates me from everyone else.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Why I do what I do is because I love
what I do.
Speaker 1 (05:56):
I'm passionate of what I do. And this is why.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
I have a podcast and I'm on one hundred episode
because other people like Ron Seacrest and his team saw
something in me and invested in me.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
And I'm grateful for that.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I never saw myself as a podcast Everybody is doing podcasting.
Speaker 1 (06:17):
I have been blessed and fortunate to have.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Thousands and thousands and thousands of downloads since starting the podcast.
I'm blessed to be on one of the greatest, if
not the greatest, platform that host podcasts.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
I Heart Radio. That's right.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
People ask me all the time, well, where can I
find your podcast? Well, first of all, you can listen
to Malie Bookshelf on wherever you listen to any podcast,
but it's.
Speaker 1 (06:49):
Hosted on iHeartRadio. That's an honor listen.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
I never saw myself as a podcasting and I believe
personally it has helped.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
Me to engage with the community. Even better, it has
helped me.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
To talk to authors and interview them because I'd like
to interview them gonna get me.
Speaker 1 (07:11):
In most cases, it has involved me into hosting book
signings where I'm the moderator.
Speaker 2 (07:19):
I did a moderation with pastor podcaster Tim Ross, got
a huge following, and I was engaged in the moderation
on his new book called Welcome to the Basement, An
OtherSide Down Guide to Greatness. I featured that episode and
interview on one of my podcasts episodes. It has helped
(07:42):
me to gain confidence, which is very important because some
of these people I gotta interviewed on this last episode
Let's Go, it was Tiffany Hattish, right, So just standing
there talking to her, not being intimidated, having confidence, that's important. Listen,
nowhere near on the scale and level where some of
(08:02):
these people are. But when I meet Spike League, who
I interviewed from the podcast, or Central the entertainer where
I get a chance to talk to, I'm not nervous.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
I feel like I'm no different than them.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
And I don't let the stars study position and wealth
that they all have intimidate me and lack confidence because
without confidence, it's everything.
Speaker 1 (08:26):
That's what I like.
Speaker 2 (08:28):
Growing up and over the years I've had to push
myself in areas where I was nervous or shy and
petrified and introverted, where I had to come out of
that shell and be engaging.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
And the books helped me. People in my life helped me.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
This podcast has helped me gain the confidence where I'm
able to be.
Speaker 1 (08:56):
Malik two point oh. This is why I do what
I do.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
Listen, No one gets to where they need to go
or it's going without that comfort and aid and direction
and push from other people. And I've had a lot
of people in my life to guide me even when
I didn't want to be guided to help me even
though I didn't want to be helped. That's the way
(09:23):
the world works.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
And I'm now.
Speaker 2 (09:26):
On one hundred episode and I'm a podcaster, I'm a
ghost owner, I'm a former track Olympian, I'm a business owner, entrepreneur, father,
a husband, and most importantly, I'm very handsome. Hey, you
gotta have a sense of humor. That's what life is
all about.
Speaker 1 (09:46):
Smiling, laughing.
Speaker 2 (09:48):
That brings your joy and it keeps you younger and youthful.
This is why I do what I do, because I
enjoy it.
Speaker 1 (09:58):
I believe this is my calling.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
I didn't always believe that, but I know that to
be the case because the synergy and the energy and
the forces all around me has put me.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
In this position. And now I know why I do
what I do. Now are you ready for this? Are
you ready for this?
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Guess who came to the neighborhood this Thursday and visited
Malik Books. Now, this was an honor, This was magnetic,
this was electric, This was a blessing. He could have
chose to go to any place he wanted, but he
(10:43):
chose Malite Books.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
He chose to make us part of his riding tour.
Speaker 2 (10:49):
Hundred and twenty years on Kiss FM Radio one O
two point seven Kiss FM.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
Let's give it up for Ryan Seeks and.
Speaker 2 (11:01):
The Morning Teen, selecting Militue Books as one of the
stops for his twentieth anniversary owned Kiss FM. Ryan Seacress
is one of the most dynamic entertainers in the industry.
He's a producer and an electric host on television on radio.
Speaker 1 (11:21):
He's so successful.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
And he came to Malague Books and embraced Malique himself.
Speaker 1 (11:28):
He treated me with love and grace and honor.
Speaker 2 (11:34):
It was the most embracing moment that I can remember
in such a long time, and I was very honored
and appreciative. We took pictures, we laughed, we hugged, we
said we love each other.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
And but let me tell you this.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
They came and gave away one thousand dollars to the community.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Someone won a.
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Thousand dollars from Kiss FM at Malite Books.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
That's huge. That's huge. They did a rifle and looked like.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
She was about eleven years old and she had the
winning ticket.
Speaker 1 (12:13):
One thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (12:16):
Ryn Secret of the Morning Team also sponsored one hundred
and two twenty dollars gift cars to buy books.
Speaker 1 (12:24):
At Malikue Books. And let me tell you, it was
pot They was waiting in the line. They were screaming.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
When he came up to escalator to walk into Malik Books.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
They was shouting Ryan, Ryan rolling. That's right. Listen.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Community embraced Ryan inside of Milk Books. I walked side
by side, shoulder and shoulder as we greeted all the
people inside of milik But we.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Filled that out.
Speaker 2 (12:52):
We gave away one hundred and two twenty dollars gift
cars and someone.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
Won a thousand dollars.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
All is sponsored by Kiss FM Ron Seacrest Morning Show.
Speaker 1 (13:05):
This was unprecedented. I've never had.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
A giveaway like this inside of Elite Books, so I
was honored.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
I was just blessed. It was amazing.
Speaker 2 (13:17):
And you know my podcast Leak's Bookshow in the World
together with books, culture and community, Well this was that
type of event inside of Elk Books April twenty fifth,
where we gave away one thousand dollars. We gave away
give cards to the community, buy books, a blessings upon,
(13:39):
blessings upon blessed. That's community, that's cultural, that's books. Come on, man,
this is why I do what I do. I love
what I do and I do it with a passion.
And this particular weekend was also Independent Bookstore Date this Saturday,
(14:03):
April twenty seven, and so we hosted Tamisha Booker, doctor
to Misha Booker.
Speaker 1 (14:10):
Let me get it right, let me get it tight.
Speaker 2 (14:11):
You go to school, you get a doctorate, you need
to be honored as such. Doctor Tomsha Booker, who has
a publishing company called Hey Carter Books and wrote a
book called Brown Boy Joy. We featured her at Malik
Books this Saturday, April twenty seventh. She came through as
our honored guests for Independent Bookstore Day. Just don't stop
(14:34):
and it won't stop because I do what I do.
And it was amazing to celebrate independent bookstore. The inside
of Malite Books is one party and it's all nationwide.
All the independent bookstores are celebrating at their locations. We
had music, we had snacks, we had books, we had
(14:57):
doctor Tamisha Booker.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
It was enough, a powerful day, powerful.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
Week Independent Bookstore Day, Malite Books in the Westfield, Covid
City Mall and ball and Hills Crenshaw Mall. I'm just honored.
I'm just grateful that community shows up when Elite host events.
Next up May seventh, Ladarian Williams and I'm gonna be
(15:23):
the moderator.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
That's right, the.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Hype man of books. His book, Ladamian Williams wrote is
called Blood at the Root. Come through May seventh, seven pm.
Elite Books, Westfield, Covid City Mall. We're gonna be discussing
magic power and guess what the main character of the
book is Milk.
Speaker 1 (15:43):
So I'm gonna moderate.
Speaker 2 (15:44):
We're gonna be talking about magic, fantasy, adventure, sci fi
because that's what that book is all about. It's gonna
be electric, it's gonna be powerful. We're gonna have conversations.
We're gonna have a book signing. Go tomlitebooks dot com.
You got an RSVP and on May fifteenth, time to
be announced.
Speaker 1 (16:03):
But we got Shanie Henderson.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Now she used to be married to Shaq and she's
the mother of all his kids.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
She has a new book called Undefeated.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Gonna have a discussion, We're gonna have a book signer
and guess what.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
She's the producer of a show called Basketball Wife.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
And if they gonna be filming in sign Elk Books, Listen,
it's gonna be featured on one of the episodes on
Basketball Wives Shanie Henderson.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
At Malik Books May fifteenth.
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Time to be announced, but go to Melite books dot
com get more details. You know you're gonna have to
R's and fe you know it's gonna be limited Seaton.
It's going down all at Melite Books and guess what,
you know, I'm gonna try to interview Shannie. You know
I'm gonna be already interviewing Ladarian Williams Blood at the Root.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
So hey, you gotta keep listening. You gotta keep toning
into Mileak Books.
Speaker 2 (16:59):
You need to keep continue to follow us on our
social media and if you need to email, email me
at real Malik Muhammad at gmail dot com. Well, stay
tuned for this upcoming episode because it's the one hundred episode.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
Why I do what I do.
Speaker 3 (17:21):
Welcome, Walcome, Welcome to Malik's bookshelf, bringing a world together
with books, culture and community. I have a guest today
and it's independent bookstore. Dank give it up.
Speaker 4 (17:34):
We got we got some.
Speaker 1 (17:36):
Folks in Malik Books on independent books no day.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Thank you for coming by. This is important without independent books.
I know That's how I got started and it was
self published independent authors. Is how Malik Books got started
back in nineteen ninety. All these books that you see
in here, with all them one published like it is today.
It's only because of your buying power that all the
(18:03):
mainstream publishers are publishing our voice.
Speaker 4 (18:07):
We like to say, I'm lead books.
Speaker 1 (18:10):
We get voice to the voiceless.
Speaker 4 (18:15):
So Hey, thank you.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Now we're gonna turn this conversation to my beloved sister.
She got a publishing company called Hey Carter Books. This
particular book here, Brown Boy Joyce she got about sixteen.
But Brown Boy joy has been the one that has
blown up. Let's give a round of applause to Misha Booker.
(18:43):
So no one can tell you more about that book
than the authors. So let's get right into it. Tell
us about this wonderful book that you wrote, Brown Boy Jorge.
Speaker 5 (18:54):
Yes, So Brown Boy joy is inspired by my son Carter.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
The whole brand is inspired.
Speaker 6 (18:59):
By my son Carter, now my daughter truly.
Speaker 5 (19:01):
And so as a child, I grew up with a
lot of anti blackness in my home. I was raised
by a biracial mother and a white grandmother, and so
I heard a lot of hurtful things about my skin color, my.
Speaker 6 (19:12):
Hair, my facial features.
Speaker 5 (19:14):
And so when I wrote this book, I wanted my
son to have something that would be empowering so you
can see themselves. But really my books are letters to
my inner child. I write all the things that I
wish were around and wish I.
Speaker 6 (19:26):
Needed to hear growing up.
Speaker 5 (19:27):
And so inside Brown Boy Joy you will find all
the things little brown boys love, from gardening to being
in space, to playing with trucks and just paying with
their friends and just highlighting all the joy. And when
little black boys see this book, I want them to
find themselves.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
On the pages.
Speaker 5 (19:44):
I know that they are loved and cared for and
cherished and respected. And yes, this is just a little
piece of my heart that is into the world.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
You know what, My introduction was short and it didn't
encompass her academical Now this is doctor Tumisian, doctor Tomsia Hooker,
all right, she paid a price to have that di
to make sure I mentioned that, And what what is it?
Speaker 4 (20:12):
An education?
Speaker 5 (20:13):
So I am a life and social worker, have a
master's in social work.
Speaker 6 (20:16):
I have a doctor education health and psychology.
Speaker 5 (20:19):
So a lot of my books are rooted in black psychology,
especially when books serve as counter messages to the negative
narratives that.
Speaker 6 (20:25):
We hear in the world, and so we.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
Need these as tools and schools and homes so our
children know that their place is wherever they are.
Speaker 6 (20:34):
They can thrive and.
Speaker 3 (20:35):
Grow when you know everyone, I've been nicknamed the Height
Man of Books, Mali the Height Man of Books, and
I just want you to know I'm featuring it for
my one hundred episode coming up, dim it Up one
hundred episode or Malie's Books Show bringing a world together
(20:57):
with books, culture and Kummer.
Speaker 4 (20:59):
Now I never saw much as a podcaster.
Speaker 3 (21:01):
I can't thank Royan Cacris, Kiss FM, iHeartRadio his team
for staring me in this direction as a podcaster. This
is my one hundred episode, and I think this is
a wonderful one because we're talking about representation, and this
is one of the reasons why I'm in the industry
is because it was a lack of representation and books.
Speaker 4 (21:23):
Matter, reading matters, you know, and we have to start
without you.
Speaker 3 (21:28):
It talked to me about why it's important that we
start early because most of your sixteen books, I'm assuming
our children books, so talk to us about that.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
Yeah, I mean, I think when people think of representation,
it's more than just yes, the exposure. But I see
it from a safety perspective. I think when books are
in schools, it lets our children know that this is
the space for them, that they're meant to be there.
They can see themselves, and that means that they know
that reading is for them and education is for them.
And when you don't see yourself inside of books or
(21:58):
in a world, you know it's meant for you.
Speaker 4 (22:01):
And so when we have.
Speaker 5 (22:02):
Black books with written by black authors sharing a black narrative,
it reinforces that messages and letting our children know that
this space is for them, those books are for them.
Speaker 4 (22:12):
Yes, yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:13):
And so I mean you guys, you're own publishing because
he Carter hate Carter Books.
Speaker 4 (22:19):
You write a lot of books dealing with representation.
Speaker 3 (22:22):
Brown Boy Joy, which I'm holding up and we're doing
the book signing right here today Independent Bookstore Day at
Malik Books.
Speaker 4 (22:28):
Westfield, Kobe City Mall.
Speaker 3 (22:30):
And youven wrote about it, like I said, sixteen of them.
And so what drives you, what continues to move you forward?
You know, I know what drives me at Molik Books.
I know what drives me is the hype man of books.
Speaker 5 (22:43):
For what drives you definitely my children, you know, when
I look at their faces, I'm reminded of all the
other children.
Speaker 6 (22:50):
Who definitely need these books as well, and.
Speaker 5 (22:52):
Just future generations again that safety issue, making sure that
black children for futures know that we got them, we
love them as a place for them. And you know,
just walking into Moleek Books, it feels like black children
should be here, This is a space for them. It
feels love, it feels comfortable. You know, if you walk
into a bookstore and.
Speaker 6 (23:10):
You don't see yourself on the shelves, then why why
are you gonna read?
Speaker 4 (23:12):
You know, read the books.
Speaker 5 (23:13):
So all of my books have affirmations in them. They
really speak life into children. I want children to walk
away feeling, you know, just rooted and who they are
and standing in there their purpose and helping them to
cultivate a positive inner voice. So yeah, I'm mostly also
driven by, just like I said, my inner child. You know,
I speak to and tap into her as much as
(23:34):
possible to make sure that she knows she's loved and chairs.
Speaker 4 (23:38):
So yes, I.
Speaker 3 (23:41):
Didn't drop the book with the showbus go on, It's
not over because I dropped a book but thats just
said that how.
Speaker 4 (23:49):
Important that book is. You know, I grew up with
a lot of self esteem. I grew up not loving.
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Mylf and it's only through books. Like I always tell
you why you get in the book business. I had
a degree from USC but I didn't have a knowledge yourself.
And part of that is loving yourself, accepting yourself. In
order to be yourself, you got to love yourself.
Speaker 4 (24:17):
And I know that the way I thought.
Speaker 3 (24:21):
And the things I used to say, I didn't grow
up with a representative books that talked about our experiences
looked like me in the book. The first thing a
child look for in a picture is themselves.
Speaker 4 (24:35):
And when you don't see yourself, man.
Speaker 3 (24:37):
I can remember all the years I gave greeting cards
to my mom with all kinds of other people on there,
because it wasn't no black greeting cars. You know, and
it's so important. And you know you have your doctorate
you in education. Did the book come out before you
had your doctorate or did you get your doctorate first
(24:58):
and education and then as it spin off to evolve.
Speaker 4 (25:02):
Your brand, you wrote these books. Yeah, so education.
Speaker 5 (25:07):
In my home, I think my mother kind of you know,
drove home the message of you need to go to college,
mad Sri, go to college, and so I kind of
was on this track of, well, I'm just gonna go
to college and kind of figure it out.
Speaker 6 (25:18):
So I wanted to choose a.
Speaker 5 (25:20):
Degree that I thought was gonna be needed for a
long time longevity, so I would to psychology.
Speaker 4 (25:24):
Have figured a computer can't.
Speaker 6 (25:26):
Replace me, So that's why I kind of chose that.
Speaker 5 (25:29):
And I think with a lot of other the to
all professionals, when you come from a hurt place, you
want to, you know, give that back to the community.
But I had already had my doctorate and my master's
when I wrote the book. It was actually when I
was pregnant with my son. It was a very dark
time me coming into motherhood, that transition. I was not
really sure how that was gonna change me. I was
(25:51):
a career woman and felt like I didn't want to
be slowed down and it was just a lot. And
so during that transition is when I turned to writing.
It was a creative outlet to express myself. And then
when I found out I was having a son, a
black son, so he's gonna need tools, and I want
to be able to create things. So it was kind
of a cathartic experience to be able to transition into
(26:12):
motherhood and.
Speaker 6 (26:13):
Give him, you know, this beautiful gift.
Speaker 5 (26:16):
And when I first started writing books, I had no
idea what I was doing.
Speaker 6 (26:20):
It was just my gift to my son and to
the world.
Speaker 5 (26:22):
And I'm so glad that I chose it because's actually
a nice compliment with my education background.
Speaker 3 (26:27):
Absolutely, And you know, you travel the nation, you put
on workshops.
Speaker 4 (26:33):
Can you tell us a little about these workshops.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
Yes, So the workshops have really been a good merge
of my clinical skills and.
Speaker 6 (26:42):
Also being an author.
Speaker 5 (26:44):
And my main goal in the workshops is to help
children cultivate a positive innervoice and just feel good and
be able to know how to speak to themselves. I
talk a lot about how powerful the brain is and
that the messages you put inside of your brain those
really mad. So today we let a workshop on planting
at the Kannunga Park Library and all the attendees planted.
Speaker 6 (27:08):
Their own Basically, they gave life to their words.
Speaker 5 (27:11):
They had seated paper, they wrote affirmations on those they
planted them, and really talked about how there's power in
our words and the things that you say to yourself.
They matter, And you know, I think as adults we
may know that skills.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
So I'm really.
Speaker 5 (27:25):
Focused on helping our young children learn that and be
able to take that with them throughout their life.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
Well, you talk about these affirmations, you talk about these words.
We grew up with a lot of nursery rhymes that
would very devastate and destructive towards like steaks and stones
might break my moon, but words will never hurt me.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
How many times words.
Speaker 3 (27:44):
Have killed you, destroyed you, diminished you, you hate yourself?
Speaker 4 (27:48):
You know? Words are powerful?
Speaker 3 (27:50):
Yes, And we have to speak into existence what we
want in this world and manifests what we want in
this world. And we got to be careful what we
teach our young A lot of these things that we're
teaching and passing on, it's like we're passing on to
the next gend the trauma not knowing better. You know,
we you're responsible what you know. And I didn't grow
(28:13):
up with these books. We hope that the next generation,
because which is one of it's in our future, will.
Speaker 7 (28:19):
Take books like your books hate black black boy, I
mean brown boy joy will take books like this and
evolve and.
Speaker 3 (28:32):
Change, break the cycle, break the generational cycle.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
And so.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Man, I applaud you for doing your part. I'm doing
my part by being a bookstore owner. And what I mean,
any plans for this turning into animation a series on
TV talk to us about the future of your brand.
Speaker 5 (28:56):
Yeah, I have definitely spoke out loud and I'm a
really very manifestation and just saying out loud what I want.
So definitely have said out loud many times that I
see this as an animated series. If you look at cartoons,
you don't see black boys in the front, and that's
completely problematic.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
You know.
Speaker 5 (29:14):
That's another reason why I wrote these books is because
I saw on the shows that black boys weren't really there.
Speaker 4 (29:19):
And even a lot.
Speaker 5 (29:20):
Of times when I'm selling my books, people will say, oh, yeah,
something for girls, and I'm like, I do see the need,
and I definitely understand why black girls need to be
front and center. But when you aside from your bookstore,
of course, but when you're in typical bookstores, you're not
seeing black boys.
Speaker 6 (29:33):
Front and center.
Speaker 5 (29:34):
So I am manifesting, you know, a animated series where
a black boy is in the front and shining, and
you are seeing him living his life, his happiness.
Speaker 6 (29:45):
His joy for the world to see.
Speaker 5 (29:47):
So that's definitely when I had these books in mind
where I see.
Speaker 4 (29:51):
It going, well, that's wonderful, and you're right, we have
to you know.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
I mean it was a book out called Conspiracy Destroyed
Black Boys by doctor Juwanza can Chu f You? And basically,
you know, he pointed out as a in his doctor
and his degree and his education that black boys are
under assaw and are being destroyed at a very age.
They run them away from mathematics and they make math.
(30:19):
They teaching a way to make them not like math.
When math is at the root of every civilization. Math
is at the root of nation building. There is no
civilization without engineering and science.
Speaker 4 (30:33):
There's no growth.
Speaker 3 (30:34):
And if we running away our young, are you away
from math?
Speaker 4 (30:40):
What future were we heard? Yeah?
Speaker 5 (30:44):
You know, black boys grow up to be feared as men.
You know, black boys are seen as more aggressive, their
emotions are misunderstood, They are giving harsh for punishments than
their counterparts. And you know, even my son as early
as two years old was seen as his age appropriate
play and.
Speaker 6 (31:03):
Behavior was seen as aggressive. And you know that's really problematic.
Speaker 5 (31:07):
And then you kind of have that preschool to to
to jail pipeline.
Speaker 6 (31:12):
You know, the prins of pipeline.
Speaker 5 (31:14):
And so it's really important to me that black boys
know that they are loved and cared for.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
And valued and value and we matter.
Speaker 3 (31:24):
We matter, and our black sisters and black children and
black young women matter. But we definitely have to put
emphasis and I appreciate that on black boys, brown boys,
because without.
Speaker 4 (31:41):
Our men and our children, our future is dismal.
Speaker 3 (31:47):
And so I want to take this opportunity to thank
you for your contribution to the upliftment of the next generation,
because that's our future and of our future.
Speaker 4 (31:59):
So thank you, thank you, Thank you.
Speaker 3 (32:02):
Tell the people how they can reach you and follow
you and keep in touch with the moves that you're making.
Speaker 5 (32:08):
Yes yes so On all social media platforms, it's Hay
Carter Books on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and also online at
haycarterbooks dot com.
Speaker 4 (32:18):
Bingo, bingo, thank you. I don't want to mess up
your name. Doctor to.
Speaker 1 (32:26):
Me your book the doctor, but doctor to mess your book.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
Thanks for listening to Malak's bookshelf with topics on the
shelf are books, culture and community.
Speaker 1 (32:41):
Be sure to subscribe and leave me a review. Check
out my Instagram at Malak Books. See you next time.
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