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Covered-Up History
Glow Power follows a boy who travels back in time after being trapped in an elevator and witnesses Greenwood before the Tulsa Race Massacre and then the terror of its destruction. What inspired you to blend fantasy and historical fiction?
I have always had a wild imagination and loved storytelling since I was a little girl. Combining fantasy with history brings new possibilities and original thinking into community stories. It allows for creativity in ways that “go there” to raise awareness through world-building narration. Blending fantasy with historical fiction allows authors to create realities about history that center the people most affected. The point is to understand what could have been, how it could be better, and use this strategy to layer in hope and promise into stories; specifically in Glow Power, Jake and Teyanna build a robust friendship that becomes lifelong and that takes their witnessing Greenwood before the massacre and afterward, into an action led movement that’s anti racist and that transforms global crisis into healthier realities.
How did you develop Jake’s emotional responses so that they would feel authentic and relatable to young readers?
My son is a similar age to Jake, and he was my sounding board. I tried my best to get into a child’s mind. Originally, Jake was too idealistic and not as relatable, but working with my son, several children, and my critique group, I worked to make Jake’s emotional responses feel authentic and relatable. Thus, Jake transitions from who he used to be and the high expectations others had of him to eventually become the relatable Guardian Jake. Readers see how he got to this stage, starting with his authentic self morphing into a Cardinal Avatar and enjoying being able to fly and heal others. Once he gets back to the elevator and loses his superpowers, young readers relate to not having superpowers they wish they had and realizing that who they are is plenty.
What does the cardinal symbolize within the story?
This is a good question. The cardinal is Jake’s favorite bird, and it symbolizes possibility. Cardinals are believed to deliver messages from departed loved ones. In Glow Power, it is never directly relayed that Teyanna is the only one from all of the Dunbar kids Jake met who passes away. Teyanna is the only one that comes back to life, first through glows that tap into Jake’s peaceful and caring potential, activating his Cardinal Avatar and superpower features. In turn, he seeps life back into her as a cardinal known for being courageous, passionate, spiritual, committed, harmonious, and of course loving.
The cardinal in this story symbolizes a new beginning for Teyanna, Jake, Abuelita, and all those who will work to ensure peace. The cardinal also symbolizes the spiritual confirmation that they are on the right path as Guardians of a Transforming World.
What do you hope young readers understand about history after finishing the book?
Glow Power confronts the covered-up history of the Tulsa Race Massacre in 1921 so that young readers are led by values and are informed of better, peaceful ways to live. This book is a loving account that shows possibility and an actionable roadmap toward a better world. That is, readers will understand the history of the Tulsa Race Massacre that could have been prevented and tap into these lessons so that the future can become a more peace-loving world, connecting to Black, Red, and Bronze Excellence and Achievement. After finishing the book, the history of a strong and prosperous Black Wall Street will have been exposed so that people of color are valued and their contributions recognized.
