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Blogs by Valerie C J McGee
The full text of what I said for the article on Black Issues Book review
10/22/2005 12:39:23 AM
I have receievd a few e-mails asking me why I sounded so criticl in my coomets as viewed on the Black issues Book Review web article about Gansta Lit and todays youth
The only information I edited out before posting here are the e-mail address of the person that wrote the article and three names I mentioned in my reply.
My first e-mail was in reply to a question asked in an open forum
I received this in response
and replied . First you will read the followup e-mail, then my reply, then the second and last follow-up and my responses typed into the questions.
I hope this clears up any confusion on my position.
I am not against gansta lit being read. I am against young people not equipped with the maturity to discern what should not be duplicated in the real world and what the real world consequences are.
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******.*******com wrote:
> Dear Valerie,
> Your comments are intriguing! Do you have children?
> If so, what ages? I
> actually have talked with several parents whose
> children read these books with
> their parents' knowledge. It's an interesting issue!
> But if you have children in
> that age range, I'd love to learn more about your
> views. Thank you!
>
> Gratefully,
*********
------------------------------------------------------------------------------->
I am 48
I raised two **** children. My son is 20, I helped to raise four other children that are now grown. I worked both
professionally and as a volunteer with teens since I
was in my early twenties until last year when I worked
at the local middle school teaching Public Speaking
for their Rites of Passage program. I usually work
with kids at risk . My daughter is 9 , I have 10
nephews 2 nieces and 5 great nephews and a great niece
My youngest niece is 18
I am close to all of them My youngest of six God
daughters is 14
So, I have a wealth of information in saying that NO
PARENT that both cares about and has any control over
their child while in the child's formative years (aka adolescent)would knowingly allow their child to read those books
Take Care
Valerie
P.S.
My son was 10 when I was re-writing my debut novel
I did not let him read any sexually suggestive scenes
My daughter has a specially edited copy of my novel
and the book that my sister /friend is about to elease
was also edited so she could read it.
Take Care
Valerie
-------------------------------------------------------------------->
Hi ********
I should have given you my number. I hope You made
your deadline.
I am only just now checking my e-mails but in case you
still can use this I'll go ahead and answer these for
you
--- ******.*******com wrote:
> Valerie, I'd REALLY like to get a little more info
> from you (the story is due today)...can you please tell me what city you live in and elaborate a little
> on why no parent would let their parent read these
> books?
>
> 1. How does a parent determine what is appropriate
for their adolescent or teen child in terms of exposure to sex and violence in books?
Granted there is an increase of children that were
raised by very young (and possibly adolescent)
parents. Therfore the "moral" position may now be as
strong an issue as with older (hopefully more mature
or established) parents. Becasue of this many of our
youth are in a large way raising themselves. They are
not being given the guidance and advise needed (though
generally not appreciated until many years later) by
the young who literally have one foot still in
childhood and the other in adulthood. Young people
actually want to have someone show, explain and yes
define what is okay and what is not. I have had youth
ask me some deeply personal and long impacting
questions. My son used to refer his friends and
schoolmates almost daily throughout JHS and HS.
So if the parent does not make the child / youth .
teen / adolescent feel that they can approach their
parent / guardian and ask any question on any topic
and be given a fair / intelligent and unbiased answer
they will rely on what their friends or the siblings
of their friends tell them. My son (now 20 ) had
always known that he can ask me ANYTHING. I admit, I
do get startled or alarmed but I take a deep breathe
and respond. I have sometimes asked for a few hours or
a day to check on info but at least he knows that
there is NO TOPIC that can't be discussed without
worrying that I'll throw it back up in his face at a
later date.
Each adolescent matures in their own time. A youth
that is comfortable talking about sex may still not be
knowledgeable about drugs. They are scared even when
they do not readily admit it. They feel pressured with
mixed messages and need someone who knows either from
first hand, third party or research the correct
answer.
In summation No responsible adult would encourage an
adolescent to read the books you listed because they
do not answer the questions that will certainly enter
the teen's mind. They do not explain things from a
mental , emotional, physical - long term consequences-
manner.
WHen I discuss pregnancy I explain ALL options
available at the different stages from a clinical
stand point but I also explain that there are
different long term consequences (depending on each
person and their own conscience) that are often over
looked. I was a peer counselor ***** found to have either HIV or AIDS. Despite that my own best friend died of AIDS
simply becsue she refused to think that she has at
risk. I was the person that fought for her last five
months to keep her alive. She finally admited she had
it 36 hours before she passed. I do not have the virus but have lost several dear friends from it.
>
>
> 2. For someone like you, who restricts it, how do
> you control exposure to sex and violence in other
areas: TV, movies, music, music videos, etc.? What do
you see as the difference?
I restrict it based on the age and maturity of the
child. What is not restricted is allowed only in my
presence. If a book.. I will read it first so that
there can be very careful discussion about what was
read. My daughter is 9 and has seen borderline
explictit material on tv and probably in books she has
browsed before I realized it. I again discuss it in
detail. When she was about 2 I went to the
babysitter's after work and she was spread eagle at
the top of the stairs emulating Little KIm's video on
an escalator, She wa banned from BET and VH1 and I
made the babysitter agree. I also talked to her about
how bad people who think bad things might take her
doing that as an invitation to hurt her. She watches
movies with me or my son that we have to either cover
her eyes, pause it and take her out of the room or
explain what is going on. Its alot of work but parent
who do not put in that hard work will regret it later.
>
> 3. Do you differentiate between letting your
> children read about sex and letting them read about
violence? If so, how and why?
There is a difference but its a thin line so I
basically treat both about the same. My son won't let
her hear anything or watch anything that is explicit
or very violent No adult I associate with would
either.
>
> 4. Are your children naturally avid readers? Is it
> important to you that they read a lot?
My son admits that he doesn't read books as much as
he used to but he also reads (subscribes to ) about 8
magazines and actually does read all of them cover to
cover. If a book sounds like he'd like it he still
reads. She still reads alot. I read to them both from
the day they were born (in fact I read aloud my own
books while pregnant just in cse it did make a
difference).
>
>
> 5. Do you select or preview all of your childrens'
> reading materials? What do you have them read?
She and I still do (and He and I used to ) read at
least one book together every month. When he was ten
we had a deal for every book of his I read he had to
read one of mine. I chose for him, he for I. She and I
will start that next birthday. I do not like them
reading books beneath their reading level. We also
read alot of AA themed books. Scholastic LOVES me.
>
>
> 6. What do you think are the dangers of letting
> adolescents and teens read this type of fiction
(please be very specific). The problem is not just
them reading it. Depending again on the book , the
teen and their maturity level it would be okay on the
strict condition that it is thoroughly disscussed.
Young men should not think that its okay to see how
many girls you can bed and how many babies you can
create. Girls should not think that they HAVE to sleep
with someone just to be loved. Having a baby will not
keep the guy by your sdie. NO means no..they both need
to learn that.
This is the most crucial time in their lives when they
define their sexuality and it is therfore crucial that
they be given room to grow but with guidance.
> 7. Are your children aware of these books? Have
> they expressed any interest in reading them? My son
heard of them . Said he had no interest in reading
them. He is straight and likes young women (and has
tons of them chasing him as well as older women) he
was one of only 4 people in the company of my sister
friend those months she was dying. He has opted to
"wait until he marries". He claims is still celebate by his
choice.
My daughter would have no clue about them
>
>
> 8. What would you do if you learned that your child
> was getting these books from friends/classmates and
reading them "on the down-low" without telling you?
My concern would be why would you feel necessary to
hide it. I am very open and give them both alot of
latitude in judging for themselves. I would then read
the book and discuss it.
>
>
>
> 9. Do you read these books? If so, which ones and
> what do you think of them?
> Nope
>
>
>
> 10. Do you want me to mention your published books?
> If so, I'll need titles and a brief description.
That would be very nice. Thank you. That was also very
unexpected.
INSIGHT
by Valerie C J McGee
Insight offers a multitude of action, suspense and
romance; hooking the reader from page one....One you
won't want to put down." L. Raven James of The
Rawsistaz Reviewers
A fly by the seat of your pants book! The author
skillfully draws the reader along in such a way that
you can't figure out the conclusion until she shows
you what it is. All the characters have a voice in
this story. It's to die for! Regina Paul, Author of
GETTING OUT ALIVE.
Insight is a spell binding suspense thriller that will
keep you intrigued and always wanting for more. The
debut novel of author Valerie CJ McGee follows a blind
woman, Samantha Robertson, on her search to discover
why she has been bound to a woman she has never met.
It is through the eyes of Rachael Maxwell that a blind
woman, Samantha Robertson, has been able to continue
to see. They share this sight only through dreams.
When Rachael plunges ten stories in Brooklyn, New
York, it is Samantha who unwittingly becomes the only
eye-witness.
Who will believe a blind woman in California could
have seen what happened? Discovering that Rachael did
in fact exist, Samantha leaves the safety of her home
to discover why they are bound to each other.
Samantha encounters a young detective, Brian Reynolds,
who has continued to investigate Rachael's case after
it was closed. Together they uncover answers to
questions they never knew to ask.
Long held secrets are uncovered and the haunted man
who set off this intriguing search for Insight is
drawn out. Once you get pulled into the story you
won't want to put it down.
>The Grass Is Always Greener
by Valerie C J McGee
Quite often, when grandmothers tell their
amazing stories from days long past, the folk
listening assume that the tales are at best
exaggerated. James and Elisa thought so too.
James is none too happy to be sent to spend three
months with his maternal grandmother and his five year
old sister. Envious of his friends , who all have
summer jobs. Without the things he feels matter most
, his vacation takes a bizarre turn, when the combined
"gifts" that he and Elisa have and a talisman created
by a mysterious African prince, take them to the last
place he could have expected.
Join these courageous siblings as they travel
back to 1943. Together , they will make new friends
and encounter grave danger. Can this fifteen year old
get Elisa back home? And will he finally understand
that the grass is always greener on the other side of
the fence?
>
>
> THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! I look forward to hearing
> from you...
>
> Gratefully,
> ********
You are quite welcomed.
Valerie C J McGee
Author
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October 2005 Blogs
• The full text of what I said for the article on Black Issues Book review - Saturday, October 22, 2005
• Girl Scouts - Thursday, October 13, 2005
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