Authors Interviewing Characters: Robin Farmer
Inspired by Farmer’s own confrontation with a nun over a racist comment as a young girl, Malcolm and Me is a coming-of-age story about the adolescent trauma of a black Catholic schoolgirl in Philadelphia confronting racism and the hypocrisy that surrounds her, within her school, her family, her community, and the Oval Office as Watergate unfolds. Winner of the She Writes Press and SparkPress Toward Equality in Publishing (STEP) contest, Farmer writes about discovering your voice to empower others.
On the timeliness of her historical fiction narrative, Farmer notes:
It just so happens that what’s unfolding in the Oval Office at this time reminds many citizens of the Watergate scandal. The burgeoning Black Lives Matter protest reminds me of the Black Power Movement of my youth and the fierce pride it evoked. I can recall crossing the schoolyard thinking, “There’s no better time to be a Black girl.” I dug my Blackness. That attitude mirrors the current “Black Girl Magic” mindset. Roberta’s ability to lead a successful protest at school also reflects the increasing social justice activism on the part of students nationwide.
About MALCOLM AND ME
Philly native Roberta Forest is a precocious rebel with the soul of a poet. The thirteen-year-old is young, gifted, black, and Catholic—although she’s uncertain about the Catholic part after she calls Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite for enslaving people and her nun responds with a racist insult. Their ensuing fight makes Roberta question God and the important adults in her life, all of whom seem to see truth as gray when Roberta believes it’s black or white.
An upcoming essay contest, writing poetry, and reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X all help Roberta cope with the various difficulties she’s experiencing in her life, including her parent’s troubled marriage. But when she’s told she’s ineligible to compete in the school’s essay contest, her explosive reaction to the news leads to a confrontation with her mother, who shares some family truths Roberta isn’t ready for.
Set against the backdrop of Watergate and the post-civil rights movement era, Angel Dressed in Black is a gritty yet graceful examination of the anguish teens experience when their growing awareness of themselves and the world around them unravels their sense of security—a coming-of-age tale of truth-telling, faith, family, forgiveness, and social activism.
We asked Robin if she would be willing to interview her character for us, and to our delight, she said yes.
Robin: Welcome Roberta, I’m so pleased to meet you.
Roberta: Hi Miss Robin.
Robin: Call me Robin, please.
Roberta. I can’t. My mom would kill me.
Robin: Well, we can’t have that. I have to say I absolutely love your Afro. It’s so thick and huge. I bet strangers ask to touch it all the time, don’t they?
Roberta: They don’t usually ask, especially when I’m riding a trolley or bus. Sometimes that irks me. I wouldn’t do that to anyone else. But a lot of people think my hair is a wig. So I’ll part it and show my scalp and then before I know it their hands are in my hair.
What bothers me more is when white people are surprised that my hair is soft. There are so many stereotypes about our hair…well everything about us.
Robin: Unfortunately there are. We’ll talk more about that. First, tell me what wearing an Afro means to you?
Roberta: It’s an expression of pride. It’s naturally mine, so I don’t need a hot comb relaxer or rollers. Plus, m Afro makes me feel like an African princess, especially with all the attention I get wherever I go. I’m known as the girl with the super big bush. I like that my hair automatically makes me stand out. It kind of tells people something about me and I haven’t said a word.
Robin: That’s an interesting perspective. Do you remember when you first felt racial pride?
Roberta: This will sound silly, but when I was around four or five I would not eat vanilla ice cream cones because I thought I might turn white. Somebody must have told me that.
When I got my tonsils out at age six, I couldn’t eat enough bowls of vanilla ice cream. And I’m still the color of tan sand as my Mom says.
Robin: That’s funny. Do you recall when you had a better understanding?
Roberta: I remember walking across the schoolyard one afternoon thinking there is no better time to be a Black girl. Why? It was just in the air, all around me. I was about 11.
That’s around the time when Shirley Chisholm ran for president, “Julia” and “Soul Train” made me run for the TV, and Angela Davis was cleared of charges after being on the FBI’s 10 Most Wanted List. Honestly, I admired her gigantic Afro first and then her fight for social justice. Back then I used to play all the time James Brown’s “Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud.” It was an oldie but goodie with a great message that you just had to get down to.
Robin: What is it about hypocrites that infuriate you so much?
Roberta: Grown-ups are supposed to be smarter than us, right? They are our role models. But if they aren’t telling us the truth, how can we? Why should we?
Robin: Can you see the good in people who are hypocrites?
Roberta: Yes. That’s how I know I am growing up. The funny thing is I’m a hypocrite at times, too. I didn’t realize that until recently. I have a poem with a line that says, we’re all walking contradictions in hypocritical shoes. So I understand no one is perfect and that great people can do bad things.
Robin: I enjoy your poems. Why is poetry so important to you?
Roberta: Poetry is my superpower. Half of the time I don’t even know what I’m writing about. I just need to hold a pen in my hand and see where I end up. Writing poetry is kind of like riding a bike. I always end up feeling better.
Robin: I know you are an avid reader. What are some of your favorite short stories, books and poems?
Roberta: I love Langston Hughes and his short stories about Simple. I dig the short stories The Metamorphosis and The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas. The Friends by Rosa Guy, To Kill A Mockingbird, and all of the Nancy Drew novels are great. Gwendolyn Brooks’ poem, “We Real Cool,” was the first poem by a black writer I remember reading in school. My whole body sizzled. But my all time favorite book is The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Nothing. Else. Comes. Close.
Roberta: What an eclectic list. I encourage you to keep reading a wide range of works. Doing so will help you expand your vocabulary, encourage empathy, teach you about structure and make you more willing to take risks as a budding writer. Why does The Autobiography of Malcolm X resonate with you?
Robin: Thank you for believing I know the meaning of eclectic, resonate and empathy.
Robin: I did my homework. I know you are a writer who reads well above grade level.
Roberta: Thank you, Miss Robin. At my mostly white school, we never read books like Malcolm’s autobiography in class. Reading his story made me think about my experiences in a different way. I connected with him when I learned he was the only black student in his class one year. I know the feeling. His eighth-grade teacher also called him the n word. Mine didn’t, but she looked at me like she wanted to say it after we got into a fight over me calling Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite.
Even though Malcolm was a man and much older, I felt like we had things in common. I didn’t agree with everything he said or did, especially his old criminal ways or even the Black Muslim faith he adored, but Malcolm challenged my mind and motivated me to speak up, even when afraid.
Robin: What will it take for America to be honest about it’s past and why is that important?
Roberta: It’s important to understand how much slavery has hurt all of us. Slavery worked because of racism. That sick way of thinking is still here. My nun told me to go back to Africa and she’s married to God! When prejudiced people are representatives of the church, you know they’re everywhere. Yup, we got laws that say you can’t discriminate. What I don’t get is how you make people change their hearts. Maybe when enough of us do that then we can move on and leave racist thinking behind us. I hope so.
Robin: Why do you think skin color matters so much even between black people?
Roberta: White people rule this country and some of us mistakenly think the lighter we are the better we are. That type of thinking is racist and comes from slavery. What I love about the Black Power movement is we believe “Black is beautiful” and dark skin is celebrated. Natural hair, too. I used to jump double Dutch to a song that went: If you’re light, you’re right, if you’re brown stick around but if you’re black, get back. I didn’t know any better. I do now. People who believe white and light skin are better, don’t know any better.
Robin: Well we’ve discussed some heavy topics. Let’s switch it up. Whose posters are on your walls?
Roberta: On the wall next to my bed, I have pull out pinups of Michael Jackson by himself, but in some places the Jackson Five, too. Lately I’ve noticed how cute Jermaine is but he just got married so he doesn’t count anymore. Facing my bed, are The Sylvers, whose gigantic ‘fros match mine. Next to them is cutie pie Kevin Hooks, and a couple of The Philadelphia Warriors. They’re a rock ‘em sock ‘em roller derby team me and my brother, Charles, adore.
Robin: What’s your favorite color?
Roberta: Purple! When I see the color purple it makes me feel like I just drank a big glass of tang. I take a deep breath because I’m buzzy with happiness.
Robin: What’s your favorite snack?
Roberta: It’s a three-way tie between apple Now and Laters, butterscotch Tastykakes and a soft pretzel. Wait, can I add two scoops of water ice that’s half cherry and half lemon?
Robin: I know you dream of becoming a writer one day. What do you think you will call your first book?
Roberta: That’s easy, Miss Robin. Malcolm and Me.
—
Robin Farmer is a national award–winning journalist and transplanted Philadelphian who currently calls the Richmond, VA, area home. At eight, she told her mother she would write for a living, and she is grateful that her younger self knew what she was talking about (many young folks do). Her other interests include screenwriting, poetry, movies, and traveling. She’s still hoping to write stories about young people for television and film. Robin earned her degree in journalism from Marquette University. She lives in Richmond, VA
Category: Interviews, On Writing
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