Ajamou Butler speaks everything into existence, and a little more.
When he said he was going to do spoken word poetry, he got on stage and the audience was infatuated. Now, he’s regularly requested across the state.
Ajamou Butler. (Picture taken from Facebook)
When he said he was going to throw a resource-based community block party, Heal the Hood happened. It eventually became a highly anticipated citywide event.
He told Carvd N Stone earlier this year that he was planning on writing a children’s book with his son and niece’s pictures on the cover, well…he wasn’t lying.
“Destined to Be Me” is a two-part book for little boys and girls of color that adds poetry, confidence building and relatable content for Black children everywhere.
According to a 2019 St. Catherine University study regarding diversity in children’s books, white children and animals made up 77 percent of books, while Black children only accounted for 10 percent.
“Animals are being seen in children’s books more than little Black boys and girls,” Butler said. “We deal in a world that only depicts the criminal and dramatics, which deepens the disparities Black people already face. This book is meant to provide children and young adults positive images of themselves.”
Butler said he incorporated all types of children to associate with. From different hairstyles and sizes, to disabilities and color, he wanted children to build self-affirmation.
“We have a little disabled boy in the book that has no arms, but that doesn’t mean he can’t reach for the sky,” Butler said.
He said his spoken word poetry background incorporated perfectly alongside the illustrations.
“I love my hair. I love that it’s there. I will where my crown anywhere,” he said. “It’s little tidbits of poetry that make the experience more creative, and the kids can retain it better and parents can bond when they read it to them.”
Destined to Be Me is Butler’s first published book, and he made sure his family and friends had a piece of it as well. He has his son on the boy’s book and his niece on the girl’s. He wanted to have a little something set aside for each of them being on the cover.
“I did that as a means to show them that Black people don’t have to always be seen on the 6 p.m. news or in an obituary, but actually on the cover of a book. I also did it as an empire building tool, so when they turn 18, they can divide that money up and do whatever they need to with it,” he said.
Jasmine West. (Picture taken from Facebook)
While he took care of the words, he left the illustrations to good friend and local artist Jasmine (Jazz) West.
When Butler asked West to draw the illustrations, West cleared her mind and requested to have the words for the book. She let the words marinate in head then she zoned out and drew what was in her brain.
According to West, each illustration took 25-30 minutes to complete. Along with this being Butler’s first book, this is also West’s first time doing a task of this kind.
“Ajamou’s spoken word is kinda like how I draw. He’s like the poet for my art,” she said.
In the near future, he is planning an official book launch and will have physical copies on hand. He also plans on hosting readings with children.
“I’ve always wanted to do a book or a children’s book, so to see it come to fruition and see them on the cover was extremely emotional,” Butler said.
People can pre-order the book(s) online, by clicking here.
