Taraji P. Henson Releases Debut Youngsters’s E book

Taraji P. Henson is encouraging quirky youngsters in all places to be themselves along with her debut kids’s guide, You Can Be a Good Buddy (No Matter What!). It might repay, because the Golden Globe winner is aware of effectively herself. 

“I used to be a really rambunctious little one, filled with power. My father would pay me to be quiet at 5 minute increments,” she jokes. “I danced to my very own beat and other people thought it was off beat. It was simply off of their beat.”

Fortunately, Henson had a circle of buddies who inspired her to be her inventive self. Staying true to who she was has helped her construct a profitable appearing profession with notable roles in movies equivalent to The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Hidden Figures, and extra not too long ago, The Coloration Purple. 

Self-confidence is an enormous theme in her newly-released guide. Written for ages 4 to eight and illustrated by Paul Kellam, the story focuses on a younger woman named Lil TJ who’s preparing for her first day of faculty. She tells her Grandma Patsy that she’s going to make a “million buddies,” to which Grandma Patsy reminds her that “friendships take time.” Lil TJ heads into faculty and finally ends up getting bullied by a classmate for her loud voice, drawing, and massive character. 

With the intention to keep away from being bullied, Lil TJ tones down who she is. However with a little bit encouragement from Grandma Patsy, Lil TJ in the end finds the energy to let her character shine as soon as once more.

Henson, a former substitute trainer, desires youngsters to understand how necessary their very own voice is. “I used to be a lady from the hood,” she says, of her childhood in Washington D.C. “Once you’re from the hood, you’re imagined to look a sure method—effectively I didn’t. I used to be the quirky woman within the hood.”

She provides, “[Kids] ought to by no means reduce their voice as a result of one is louder than theirs.” 

The teachings within the guide don’t finish there. 

Constructive Influences

The guide displays on Henson’s constructive relationship along with her personal grandmother, Patsie Ballard, now 100, whom she dedicates the guide to. Henson says she nonetheless seeks her recommendation. “I’m simply so grateful to nonetheless have the ability to name on my grandma,” she says. “I need her to get all her flowers, whereas she remains to be alive to obtain them.”

Grandma Patsy’s presence within the guide highlights the significance of constructive influences in kids’s lives. “You need to have some voice of knowledge in your life,” Henson notes.

Navigating Friendships

Studying learn how to make buddies and cope with various personalities is one other massive theme. Henson says mother and father might help information their youngsters by way of friendships, however it’s necessary to allow them to study on their very own. That’s the method she took along with her personal son, now 30.

“I’d say my piece after which I’d let him determine it out as a result of I can not make his decisions for him,” she says. “I am simply there to shepherd; that is actually all we’re imagined to do as mother and father—shepherd them.” 

Fostering Psychological Well being

All through the guide, Lil TJ talks about feeling nervous, particularly after experiencing bullying. The connection to psychological well being is necessary for Henson, a psychological well being advocate, who based the Boris L. Henson Basis in 2018 to enhance entry to psychological well being companies for Black communities.

“It’s a studying course of for the Black group,” she says. “It is new to loads of us as a result of we have by no means actually talked about it. I did not actually discuss or begin coping with my psychological well being on an actual severe degree till afterward in life—I used to be 40 one thing.”

Analysis reveals only one in 3 Black individuals who want psychological well being companies obtain them. Lack of entry, socioeconomic disparities, stigma, and discrimination in well being care are all boundaries to remedy.

However Henson’s objective is to normalize searching for assist when it is wanted. “As an alternative of making an attempt to grind and push by way of and be a robust Black man or robust Black lady or Black woman magic, this and that,” she says. “That stuff dehumanizes us.”

Studying From Expertise

The Empire star understands firsthand how necessary getting assist will be when she and her son fell on taxing instances. They needed to work by way of the grief of her son’s father being murdered when the boy was simply 9. Then, two years later, Henson’s father handed away. Not having male figures for her son to look as much as weighed closely on Henson.

“I’m a lady. What sort of recommendation can I give? I am not a Black man. I do not stroll in these footwear,” says Henson. “I can empathize with a Black man, I can attempt to perceive, identical to him making an attempt to grasp me and what a Black lady goes by way of. I attempt to advise, however actually, am I geared up?”

Finally, says Henson, “We needed to discover remedy collectively.”

Her private expertise helped open her eyes to the what wants to vary round psychological well being. She’s making strides by way of her group with wellness pods established at Alabama State College and Hampton College, with extra universities to come back, in partnership with Kate Spade. By means of these companies, college students can discover free psychological well being remedy, workshops, in addition to actions like yoga and meditation.

Stating how managing faculty work, a social life, and presumably a job whereas going by way of faculty could be a lot for younger college students, Henson asks, “How do these youngsters navigate that? These pods and the suggestions that we’re getting from the scholar physique is simply mind-blowing.”

As college students discover their method, Henson desires them to be their very own hero and study to like each unconventional half about themselves, identical to Lil TJ.

“No matter makes you totally different, it is your superpower,” she says. “And whenever you embrace it, belief me, everyone else will—you’ll give them no alternative.”