Multiracial cards and a few bits and pieces to remember, just before we move to London

MULTIRACIAL CARDS

Recently I was reminded of something that happened just before we left Leicester in 1983.

As I have said, we belonged to a mutually helpful multiracial group called ‘Harmony’.

One day we received a telephone call from a photographer who had contacted the Harmony group. He asked whether our son Sam would be willing for a photo of himself to appear on a birthday card. The photographer had identified what we all knew – that there was a dearth of representation of black or indeed any ‘non-white’ children on cards.

Sam was duly photographed and we all felt proud to see his handsome face reproduced on a card for everyone to see!

Why have I just remembered this situation today? It is because I was reminded THIS WEEK via Twitter that there are some people “out there”, who are trying to right exactly the same situation. It is now over thirty years since Sam’s birthday card and things haven’t changed much: 1983 – 2015!!

However, there is hope. I have just bought a delightful card illustrated by Naomi C Robinson – see www.nyhagraphics.co.uk Please look at the website. There may be many cards that will delight and be suitable for your friends and family.

I have bought the following card from the catalogue and I think Sam’s little daughter Mia will be very happy to give it to her Dad when it is his birthday.

 I always intended to raise the matter of MULTIRACIAL CARDS in my blog, ever since I tried to buy a wedding card for a black friend. That was over two years ago. I could not find a single card portraying a black couple at the time. Nyhagraphics are working on remedying that situation.

Previously I have written – along with many others – about the lack of picture books that represent ethnic minorities and I do not want to keep complaining. I like to look for positive things to report where they are available. Generally speaking I think that educational books for schools do try to be more representative, so that is a sign of progress in one area.

 Now. As I turn my mind to the move to London, I realise that there are still a few things left to say about the Leicester days, so please bear with me. There will be yet one more blog post about Leicester. After all, it was to that home that we brought the small, perky yet vulnerable child called Jah.

Here below is a photo of the very first time I was able to take care of him – during our initial day out together with his short-term foster parents. Three days later we brought him home to Leicester and he began his life there as the latest member of the family.