C.G. Rawles, Author, began her career as a fine artist. She studied painting at Spelman College (later serving as artist-in-residence) and continued her education, earning a master of arts at New York University. She has exhibited her paintings nationally and abroad, exploring the concepts of beauty and identity. Several of her works have been published in the compendium Role Call: A Generational Anthology of Social and Political Black Literature Art.
After becoming a mother of two girls, C.G. Rawles realized that the issues of beauty and identity begin to form in children at a very early age. Finding it difficult come across books for young readers that addressed diversity, skin complexion, and hair texture, she decided to write and illustrate her first children’s book, Same Difference.
Since the release of Same Difference, C.G. Rawles has received overwhelming response both near and far. The book was reviewed by Essence.com and was featured in the magazine’s December 2011 print issue in a story about colorism. Last year, C.G, Rawles was honored as the V.I. P. author at the Culver City, California, Julian Dixon Library, and she has served as a visiting author and illustrator at several Los Angeles-area elementary schools, preschools, and arts centers. As part of her ongoing work, C.G, Rawles is dedicated to addressing healthy self-esteem in young people and has created a literacy curriculum based entirely on Same Difference.
In addition, C.G. Rawles has a parenting blog (crazymomwithkids.com), where she writes about the often-comedic trials and tribulations of raising two girls. She also continues to paint fine art portraits, which can be viewed on artistcalida.com.
Through Same Difference, C.G. Rawles hopes to inspire children to love themselves for who they are and to see the beauty in everyone.
C.G. Rawles lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two daughters. Her son recently graduated from the Navy and is stationed in Seattle Washington.
Website: www.samedifferencebook.com
May 31, 2012 at 5:07 pm
There is no need to walk around in pain or in shame. Race is a societal construction anyway. In fact the first African-American First Lady is a darker shade of brown but still attractive and beautiful nonetheless.
Busted people come in all complexions…so, too, does beauty whether the person is dark skin or fair skin (or in between), or non-black.
Anyway, I might get the book for my little niece. Cute cover of the book by the way. Its funny because once in a while when I buy my five-year old niece a doll to play with (I’d rather buy her something educational instead) I try to find the most jet-blackest ones I can find (but any shade of brown will suffice).
Why? Because I want her to be confident and I can’t have her walking around thinking her skin isn’t dark enough or isn’t light enough but to love and accept herself for who she is as an African-American female regardless…hipster.