We asked author and illustrator Angel Tate about the inspiration behind her upcoming debut picture book, I Rock My Hair! Pretty and Protected By the CROWN Act.

Our conversation with Angel Tate

GRP: Hi, Angel! Welcome to our blog. Please tell us a little about yourself.

AT: I’ve been creating stories and writing poetry since I was a kid on the south side of Chicago. Growing up, I imagined myself as a dark poet like Edgar Allan Poe, but after having children, I chose a career in healthcare. However, I never stopped writing.

As a mother, I began to notice a lack of books featuring characters who looked like my children or reflected our experiences. Frustrated, I decided to create the stories I couldn’t find. In September 2023, I published Parker Peterzak Has the Big School Blues, the first book in my chapter book series, with Indie publisher Sunday Dinner Publishing.

I ROCK MY HAIR, is a picture book celebrating self-expression and confidence. It will be my debut as both author and illustrator.

Through my books, I strive to show children—especially those from underrepresented communities—that they not only exist in this world, but that they belong here too. My mission is to inspire kids to embrace their identity and feel proud of who they are.

GRP: Why did you write this book? What is the “back story” that inspired it?

AT: Having raised my children in a neighborhood and in schools that did not have a lot of kids or teachers that looked like them, they experienced situations where they felt othered. And it took many years to get my children to understand the importance of being who you are, regardless of what anyone else thinks about it.

This book I hope encourages other children who have that same experience to rock their hair however they want. And now that we are in a fight along with the crown act to make that legal in all 50 states I wanted to highlight the work that’s being done around this important topic.

GRP: What is your favorite moment in the story?

AT: My favorite moment is in the final spread when she raises her fist and stands tall in the face of adversity. Even though people had their reasons for disliking her hair, she didn’t allow that to make her shrink. 

GRP: What are some interesting messages or conversational points your book inspires?

AT: Hair discrimination has been and continues to be an issue for those of us who have Afro textured hair, and the crown act began this fight specifically for us. But, this issue is also universal. The fact that one should have autonomy over their bodies is, at the core, synonymous with what this story is trying to relay. 

GRP: As an illustrator. were you going for a certain feel or mood? 

AT: This book is basically a lived experience. And not only did I want to express her anxiety and dare I say fear that she experienced having people stare at her and discuss parts of who she was, I more so wanted to show the joy that she eventually felt when she learned that it was okay to rock her hair.

GRP: Is there anything else you would like us to know about you and your writing?

Although I wrote this book about a familiar topic important in the African American community, I am constantly concerned that Black, BIPOC writers get put into a box. We should be allowed and expected to write about characters doing all sorts of things. It should not be relegated to the things that we’ve typically seen in our stories. Because we are not a monolith. That is my next fight.

GRP: We look forward to reading that! Thank you for your time, Angel, and congratulation on your debut. 

You can connect with Angel online:

Website: Angeltate.crevado.com

Instagram: @angeltatecreates

Facebook: Angel Ragsdell Tate