Tell us more about who you all are and what you do?
I am a husband, a father of four amazing young men (The Mighty Barnes Brothers,
a son, a brother, a friend. I’m a graduate of the greatest Historically Black College
in the universe: Jackson State University. I write books that highlight the beauty,
brilliance, and power of Black children.
Describe your journey as an author? What have you learned about yourself since
releasing your first book?
I’ve been writing since I was ten years old. I just turned fifty in August. I’ve been
nice with words and infatuated with the power of words my whole life. After
graduating from Jackston State in ’99 with a BA in Marketing, I became the first
Black man in the history of Hallmark Cards to be hired as a creative copywriter. I
believe I landed the job because of my creativity, but also, I turned in tons of
columns I had written while in college at JSU for the school newspaper (The Blue
& White Flash). It was an advice column called “Brown Sugar”.
While at Hallmark, I landed a literary agent (shout out to Regina Brooks of
Serendipity Literary Agency in Brooklyn) and signed my first deal in 2004 with a
Scholastic imprint for Black authors called Just For Us Books. But I struggled for
over thirteen years to get my foot in the door. My career didn’t take off until book
number nine, a picture book entitled “Crown: an Ode To The Fresh Cut”. It won
over eight major children’s book awards and is one of the most decorated books
in the history of the industry. Currently, I am on book number twenty-two. It hasn’t
always been like this, so I feel extremely blessed to still be here making books,
relevant books for Black children.
Tell us about your new book The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze and what inspired it?
Henson is a thirteen year old football phenom from a predominately white,
fictional town in the Delta of Mississippi called Great Mountain. Those townsfolk
love him and have been waiting all of his young life for him to play high school
football. They’ve been waiting to have their own, personal athlete/ Negro to
represent the town. He comes from ‘people’. The Blayze family have had spiritual
protection for eons. They have never experienced slavery, Jim Crow, Black codes,
lynching or any for of white southern violence. In fact, the white people in
Mississippi understand that if they do or even think anything negative about this
family, it will come back to them tenfold. The Blayze family own a huge amount of
land which they’ve kept in the family for years and passed down. But instead of
respecting the family lore and business, Henson longs to be a sports star for
those townsfolk, who eventually despises him when he decides not to play after a
tragic incident happens to someone that he loves.
The book is primarily, at the core, a look at America’s fascination with the Black
body, whether it be for labor or for entertainment, and how Black boys/men have
been seduced by the fame of it all, partially for protection from white violence or
scorn. But what happens is, they are no longer viewed as people, just a
commodity. A thing. Not human at all.
What are the top three takeaways you want the audience to know about your new book?
- I want Black boys to know that they are worth much more than what this country
will assign their worth to be. You don’t just exist for sports, being the best
basketball or football player, and that’s it. - If you do decide to be an athlete, and
you’re good enough to go pro, continue to educate yourself on the history of
Black people in this country, don’t be silent on issues that affect poor people in
this country. Follow the footsteps of Muhammed Ali, Bill Russell, Kareem Abdul
Jabar, Jalen Brown, and Colin Kaepernick: have a platform to speak out against
the atrocities done to marginalized people in this country. Don’t just entertain
these people, this country. - For non-Black male athletes, especially white
children/readers, I want them to continue to educate themselves also, and not just
from a historical standpoint, but socially, and emotionally. When you see Black
athletes, whether at your school or on a much larger platform, see them as people,
as your neighbor, as someone that could be in your family. But first as full and
complete people.
Tell us more about who Derrick is as a Father.
I’m a disciplinarian, but I’m also very much so in tune with my emotions, and
don’t have a problem sharing with my sons how much I care about them, love
them immensely. It’s the creative in me I guess. I feel like I’ve been an in home
motivational speaker and try to be the best example that I can be as a hard worker,
someone that’s goal driven and disciplined. Someone that they can see firsthand,
on a daily basis, what it means to love and respect Black women in how I treat and
spoil, and love on their mother. My family means the world to me. I don’t who I’d
be without them. I definitely wouldn’t have made it as far as I have as a writer, as
man, as a person really.
How has being a dad inspired your journey as an author?
My boys have motivated me to make sure that I not only leave a legacy behind as
a great father, but also someone that left books behind that changed the way
children that look like them will see themselves; as worthy, as intelligent, and
resilient. That’s the kind of legacy they have inspired me to leave behind as
someone that writes specifically for and about the beautiful lives of Black
children., during this time in human history.
How do you balance being a father while navigating a thriving career?
It was challenging in the beginning, but that was twenty years ago, when my guys
were much younger. Now, except for my youngest son Nnamdi, who is a freshman
in high school, my other three sons are away at college and starting their own
lives. But I used to feel really guilty about leaving my wife at home with four boys.
Now, even though they’re spread out across the country (El Paso, TX, New
Orleans, LA, Washington, DC), and I could be anywhere in the country speaking or
presenting, or up late typing, I always make myself available to them, no matter
when they call on me.
Where and when can people purchase your new book?
The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze is available for pre order, everywhere books
are sold online, especially http://www.bookshop.com
Pre orders are so important for the success of the book, and for our careers to be
quite honest. I always suggest that people buy from a local, independent
bookstore in their community; Black owned, woman owned, family owned.
Tell people how they can keep up with you on social media?
I am most active on IG at @authorderrickdbarnes.com My website is
http://www.derrickdbarnes.com
About The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze:
National Book Award finalist and Newbery Honoree Derrick Barnes tackles timely issues of race and prejudice in this powerful, nuanced novel about an accomplished Black boy who strives to be seen as human.
In the small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi, all eyes are on Henson Blayze, a thirteen-year-old football phenom whose talents seem almost superhuman. The predominately white townsfolk have been waiting for Henson to play high-school ball, and now they’re overjoyed to finally possess an elite Black athlete of their own.
Until a horrifying incident forces Henson to speak out about injustice.
Until he says that he might not play football anymore.
Until he quickly learns he isn’t as loved by the people as he thought.
In that moment, Henson’s town is divided into two chaotic sides when all he wants is justice. Even his best friends and his father can’t see eye to eye. When he is told to play ball again or else, Henson must decide whether he was born to entertain people who may not even see him as human, or if he’s destined for a different kind of greatness.
Written for children ages 10 and up, Derrick Barnes’s groundbreaking novel masterfully combines a modern-day allegory with classic-style tall tales to weave a compelling story of America’s obsession with relegating Black people to labor or entertainment. Spanning the 1800s to today, this exceptional story shows how much has changed over centuries. . . and, at the same time, how little.
