Afro Futuristic Adventures with Dr. Katherine Dunham: Dancing Into the Future

This book moved me to tears as it brought back a poignant memory from high school. As a student, I dreamed of becoming a choreographer and costume designer. However, my 10th-grade teacher shattered that dream, telling me, "You don’t have the body to become a dancer." That comment crushed my spirit and silenced my aspirations. At the time, I had no one to teach me about the inherent beauty and brilliance of our bodies or the natural fluidity of movement that we, as a people, possess. It wasn’t until my 30s that I discovered the transformative work of Katherine Dunham. To all the Black and brown children who have been told what they cannot achieve, I say: Here is history that unequivocally proves otherwise! Professor Letta S Baker Mason’s books and curriculum shine a light on historical heroes from Black and brown communities worldwide. They offer children a powerful sense of identity, self-worth, and possibility—qualities essential to nurturing their dreams. Professor Shawn Harris, M.A. Ed Evergreen State College Tacoma