Overview
In 1978 at the age of 10 years old, Marky (from Philadelphia, Pa.) took a trip to Senegal, Africa. He traveled with his mother and the NAACP to visit Juffure, the home that Alex Haley discovered in 'Roots'. For him, it was the adventure of a lifetime and gave him a window into his ancestor's past that will stay with him forever.
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Description
All 10 year old Marky ever heard about Africa came from television and old Tarzan movies or from his friends that were terrified of the idea of visiting the continent or from school where he was told that only tigers and lions and wild natives lived there. Now his mother was taking him for a visit and although he was excited, he was also frightened. What would he see there? Would he be attacked by cannibals or lions? Would he have to protect himself? What would he do? A different life in Africa unfolds for him immediately upon arrival. Join Marky as he explores the 'The Mysterious Continent' and experiences a new reality.
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About the author
JUDITH M ECHOLS When I was in third grade I had to take a geography quiz and one of the questions was ‘Egypt is on what continent’? Of course, I answered Africa. The teacher marked it wrong and I promptly took my paper up to indicate to her that she had made an error. Well, she told me that Egypt was not in Africa. That Egypt was too beautiful to be in someplace dirty like Africa and that Egypt was, in fact, in the Middle East. As an Army brat who was born in Japan, I had lived in small towns and big cities and knew a little bit about the world. At home after discussing my teacher’s incredible lack of knowledge with my parents, I took my encyclopedia to school the next day to educate my teacher. In my eight year old mind she must not have known how beautiful Africa is and that Egypt is indeed there. She slammed my book shut, shoved it at me, told me the encyclopedia was wrong and I was not to bring the subject up again!
I was in such a quandary and very upset. I couldn’t fathom how I was going to learn from a system that wouldn’t teach me the truth. I think it was then that I decided to challenge myself to learn what positive things the world had to teach me. I love being an experiential learner, and my son Mark and I have had many wonderful adventures.
I wanted this book to expose children to the gift of travel from an African American child’s point of view with the hope that the subject would be relatable. My son Mark and I now live in Florida and we continue to travel and educate ourselves about our big beautiful home which is the world.
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