The Multicultural Children’s Bookstore celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. day along with thousands of others around the country. The occasion kicked off the bookstore’s own January to March Black history celebration calendar. The Children’s Bookstore continues celebration activities through March because March is Women’s History month and there are thousands of African-American women to honor and recognize. MLK Day is also a time to reflect on Dr. King’s goals and efforts to bring all of America together.

It took nearly 20 years after being introduced to Congress for Dr. King’s birthday to be approved as a federal holiday. It was an uphill battle and not everyone was on board. According to American historian Michael Honey, many in Congress “did not want to recognize an African American that was thought of as a troublemaker by some in his day.” Nevertheless, Stevie Wonder’s 1981 release of “Happy Birthday” coupled with his tireless campaigning led directly to the enshrinement of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

Wonder’s dream became a reality in 1983 when Congress passed the King Holiday Bill, and then-president Ronald Reagan signed it into law. The third Monday in January has since been celebrated as Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

At The Multicultural Children’s Bookstore, we chose to celebrate MLK Day by having community leaders read Martin Luther King children’s book. Guest celebs this year were the Honorable Mayor Tom Butt; chief of police Bisa French; Councilman Melvin Willis; three firefighters from the Hilltop Fire Station, including firefighter Lorenzo Moreno; Pastor Dale Weatherman of Easter Hill United Methodist Church; and the Jefferson Award recipient, Andre Shumake.

It was a wonderful affair, and a great time was had by all. The book reading will be an annual event at the bookstore.

Martin Luther King day is about commemorating the legacy of an American hero who endured, persevered, and in the end died to inspire Americans to appreciate the benefits of peaceful coexistence.

Tamara Shiloh

About Tamara Shiloh

Tamara Shiloh has published the first two books in her historical fiction chapter book series, Just Imagine…What If There Were No Black People in the World is about African American inventors, scientists and other notable Black people in history. The two books are Jaxon’s Magical Adventure with Black Inventors and Scientists and Jaxon and Kevin’s Black History Trip Downtown. Tamara Shiloh has also written a book a picture book for Scholastic, Cameron Teaches Black History, that will be available in June, 2022.

Tamara Shiloh’s other writing experiences include: writing the Black History column for the Post Newspaper in the Bay area, Creator and Instruction of the black History Class for Educators a professional development class for teachers and her non-profit offers a free Black History literacy/STEM/Podcast class for kids 3d – 8th grade which also includes the Let’s Go Learn Reading and Essence and tutorial program.   She is also the owner of the Multicultural Bookstore and Gifts, in Richmond, California,

Previously in her early life she was the /Editor-in-Chief of Desert Diamonds Magazine, highlighting the accomplishments of minority women in Nevada; assisting with the creation, design and writing of a Los Angeles-based, herbal magazine entitled Herbal Essence; editorial contribution to Homes of Color; Editor-in-Chief of Black Insight Magazine, the first digital, interactive magazine for African Americans; profile creations for sports figures on the now defunct PublicFigure.com; newsletters for various businesses and organizations; and her own Las Vegas community newsletter, Tween Time News, a monthly publication highlighting music entertainment in the various venues of Las Vegas.

She is a member of:

• Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)


• Richmond Chamber of Commerce


• Point Richmond Business Association


• National Association of Professional Women (NAPW)


• Independent Book Publishers Association (IPBA)


• California Writers Club-Berkeley & Marin


• Richmond CA Kiwanis


• Richmond CA Rotary


• Bay Area Girls Club

Tamara Shiloh, a native of Northern California, has two adult children, one grandson and four great-grand sons. She resides in Point Richmond, CA with her husband, Ernest.

www.multiculturalbookstore.com

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