Alia Scott Process Book by Southern Miss Design

Dear Black Girl Process Book

Alia Scott Graphic Design Capstone Jan 26, 2021 Proposal Proposal Topic: •The topic that I’ve decided to choose for my capstone is to illustrate an affirmations book for African American girls from the ages of 6-12 years old. Black representation in the media (Tv, books, etc) is not shown as frequently or as much as white characters in the media. According to a recent study from Yale University revealed that many preschool teachers have implicit biases against black students, resulting in lower expectations and gifted-program referrals rates for these students. Black people thought history have been subjected to harmful stereotypes from white supremacy. This is turn affects the black youth especially young black girls because black women in the media are either shown as, “ghetto”, loud, uneducated, and or unattractive. Representation is so important for young black girls to look up to for their self esteem. Specific Area of the Field of Design: •Children’s book •Psychology • Illustration How will this be done ?: •For my capstone my book series will be called, “Dear Black girl” which is is meant to be an affirmations book that parents could read to their black children everyday to remind them to love their hair, features, and skin tone. I plan on illustrating 3 short books. 1) teaching them to love their hair. 2.) teaching them to love their skin. 3.) teaching them to love their African features. As far as how this will be illustrated I plan on using watercolor to illustrate. Watercolor as a medium as been used in most children’s books because it creates a smooth pleasing aesthetic to the eye. Also children are more likely to identify more to hand drawn images because children have more access to mediums like watercolor therefore can see themselves within the illustrations. According to an article titled, “ Reading in Color: Children's Book Illustrations and Identity Formation for Black Children in the United States” by Jacque Roethler states that, “ The Illustrations that children encounter in their early literacy/ sensory experience can become early building blocks of their thinking and can form their overall identity” •I also want to include a motion graphics animation segment that is going to correspond/do a voice over of some of the story in the book. The video will show different black girls all ranging

in different skin tones while animations that corresponds with the voice will be played over the video being played. How this will contribute as your growth as an Artist/Designer ? This topic really hits home to me, as someone who was a young black girl growing up in America with little representation growing up. I see this as an opportunity to not only study the psychology of children’s representation in children’s books but to also uplift a generation of young black girls. Any Obstacles ? My only obstacle is that throughout this process I would have to be careful to make sure that every black girl feels included such as (skin tones, and different types of features) African descent people are a very diverse group of people ranging in different shades, hair types, etc. I would have to illustrate black girls ranging from the lightest skin to the darkest skin for all black girls to feel included.

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Throughout American history, Black African Americans have faced a large disadvantage when it came to civil rights, education, and beauty standards. Most specifically, African American women at large are disadvantaged and particularly vulnerable to the European standard of beauty which emphasize skin color, hair types, and features. This in turn causes an internalized form of self-hate within the African American female population due to the lack of black representation shown in the media. According to the article titled, The Beauty Ideal: The Effects of European Standards of Beauty on Black Women by Susan L. Bryant discusses about an experiment conducted by Clark and Clark in 1947 called “Doll Test”. Alia Scott Capstone Research Paper: Black Representation in Children’s Books Art 448 | Spring 2021 Professor Lawler

In this experiment 253 children between the ages of three to seven were given two identical dolls with the only difference being their skin color. One doll was white and while the other doll was black. According to the article, The Beauty Ideal: The Effects of European Standards of Beauty on Black Women “Approximately two-thirds of the children indicated that they liked the white doll better, in spite of their own skin color.” Throughout the experiment the researchers asked the black children various questions about why they choose the white doll over the black doll. Upon their research they concluded that the children viewed the black doll as bad because they were a lack of representation. A closer look at the literature indicates that this self-hatred permeates throughout the life course, is passed through generations of black women, and is rooted in early childhood interactions with both the immediate environment and the social sphere (Robinson-Moore, 2008).

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Dear Black Girl is a children’s book series made for Black girls between the ages of six Alia Scott to twelve that is meant to uplift and highlight their unique features. As stated, previously the Graphic Design Capstone Jan of 26,this 2021 purpose book series is not only to uplift African American girls into Proposal loving themselves, but it is to also educate the people from the outside the importance of Proposal Topic: books. Another interesting fact about the lack of black representation in diversity in children’s •The topic that I’ve decided to choose for my capstone is to illustrate an affirmations book for children’s books is that according to an article titled, Culture and Conflict: The Portrayal African American girls from the ages of 6-12 years old. Black representation in the media (Tv, books, etc) is not shown as frequently or as much as white characters in the media. According to of Blacks in U.S. Children's Picture Books Through the Mid- and Late-Twentieth a recent study from Yale University revealed that many preschool teachers have implicit biases against black students, resulting in lower expectations and gifted-program referrals rates for bystudents. BerniceBlack A. Pescosolido, Elizabeth and Melissa A. Milkie, discusses how Century these people thought historyGrauerholz have been subjected to harmful stereotypes from white supremacy. This is turn affects the black youth especially young black girls because black children’s picture during theas, 20th“ghetto”, centuryloud, had extremely negative connotations to women in thebooks media before are either shown uneducated, and or unattractive. Representation is so important for young black girls to look up to for their self esteem. black children. “Previous studies of children’s books indicate that depictions of African

Americans have been stereotypes and narrowly focused” (Klien 1985; Larrick Specific Area of the Field of Design: •Children’s book 1965;•Psychology Sadker and Sadker 1977) Black people were rarely seen in Children’s books back then and • Illustration if they were they were seen in a very negative light such as negative stereotypes like black face

Example of how black face was used to reinforce the idea thatthat black people were by illustrating exaggerated in different skin tones while animations corresponds withnot thehuman voice will be played over the video being played. features on children’s book characters. These illustrations How this will contribute as your growth as an Artist/Designer ? were and still are very harmful to Black Americans. This topic really hits home to me, as someone who was a young black girl growing up in America with little representation growing up. I see this as an opportunity to not only study the psychology of children’s representation in children’s books but to also uplift a generation of young black girls. Any Obstacles ? My only obstacle is that throughout this process I would have to be careful to make sure that every black girl feels included such as (skin tones, and different types of features) African descent people are a very diverse group of people ranging in different shades, hair types, etc. I would have to illustrate black girls ranging from the lightest skin to the darkest skin for all black girls toLittle feel included. Black Sambo for example was a very popular children’s book written in 1898 by

author Helen Bannerman which depicted a black child on an adventure with a tiger. Over the years however, the illustrations of the book faced controversy over its offense nature and the dangers of the illustrations over time most likely affected the black children’s self esteem when it

How will this be done ?:

came to their features. The importance of children’s books are very important to the child’s early

•For my capstone my book series will be called, “Dear Black girl” which is is meant to be an affirmations book that parents could read to their black children everyday to remind them to love their hair, features, and skin tone. I plan on illustrating 3 short books. 1) teaching them to love their hair. 2.) teaching them to love their skin. 3.) teaching them to love their African features. As far as how this will be illustrated I plan on using watercolor to illustrate. Watercolor as a medium as been used in most children’s books because it creates a smooth pleasing aesthetic to the eye. Also children are more likely to identify more to hand drawn images because children have more access to mediums like watercolor therefore can see themselves within the illustrations. According to an article titled, “ Reading in Color: Children's Book Illustrations and Identity Formation for Black Children in the United States” by Jacque Roethler states that, “ The Illustrations that children encounter in their early literacy/ sensory experience can become early building blocks of their thinking and can form their overall identity”

development and according to Blacks in the World of Children's Books “numerous studies done

•I also want to include a motion graphics animation segment that is going to correspond/do a voice over of some of the story in the book. The video will show different black girls all ranging

from the 1960s and 70s concluded that children’s books were very important for the development of self-concept, world view, language, and reading. (Jeanne S. Chall, Eugene Radwin, Valarie W. French and Cynthia R. Hall) Upon more research, the images that are in the children’s books just as important as the messages or story in the book. This is because the images that are exposed to them can affect the way that they view themselves and how they view members of their own group. So as previously mentioned before in the Doll Test, the African American children thought of the black doll in a negative way despite them being black themselves. It was not until

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dominant and used as a design element to represent a joyful and inviting feeling. To back this up Alia Scott Graphic Design Capstone Jan 26, 2021 Proposal

colorpsychology.org/ explains that, "Orange sits in the middle of those extremities: it promotes

Proposal Topic:

a America book series has the color orange veryup. present in the illustrations a light withthat little representation growing I see this as an opportunityincluding to not only studyblue the . The

•The topic that I’ve decided to choose for my capstone is to illustrate an affirmations book for African American girls from the ages of 6-12 years old. Black representation in the media (Tv, books, etc) is not shown as frequently or as much as white characters in the media. According to a recent study from Yale University revealed that many preschool teachers have implicit biases against black students, resulting in lower expectations and gifted-program referrals rates for these students. Black people thought history have been subjected to harmful stereotypes from white supremacy. This is turn affects the black youth especially young black girls because black women in the media are either shown as, “ghetto”, loud, uneducated, and or unattractive. Representation is so important for young black girls to look up to for their self esteem.

orange suppose youngisblack girls.to represent positivity and self-love that the black girls are suppose to feel

Specific Area of the Field of Design: •Children’s book •Psychology the mid 1960’s that black editors began to become sensitive to the needs of black representation • Illustration

in children’s books.

How will this be done ?:

In the article, Black Children's Books: An Overview by Judy Richardson discusses how

in different skin tones while animations that corresponds with the voice will be played over the video being played.

rejuvenation, communication, and positivism This color also enhances extraversion, allowing How this will contribute as your growth as an Artist/Designer ?

people to let go of their inhibitions and express themselves more freely.” Dear Black Girl is also This topic really hits home to me, as someone who was a young black girl growing up in

psychology of children’s representation in children’s books but to also uplift a generation of

whenever they read Any Obstacles ? and look at the illustrations while the blue is suppose to represent “calm My only obstacle is that this process I would have to be careful make sure serenity over intensity orthroughout passion.” The blue is suppose to represent to thetoreader that that while this every black girl feels included such as (skin tones, and different types of features) African

descent people are for a very diverse group people hairreader. types, etc. I book is also meant empowerment it of is too alsoranging meant in todifferent relax andshades, calm the

would have to illustrate black girls ranging from the lightest skin to the darkest skin for all black girls toInfeel included. recent years and even today despite having more diversity than the past. Diversity and

black representation is still a problem to this day. In children’s picture books, The Oasis Syndrome is very prevalent and easy to identify in children’s books. According to the article, Children’s Books and Racism by Bettye I. Latimer. Is when a story involves a number of people who are traditionally white while there is only one token black character among the array of

•For my capstone my book series will be called, “Dear Black girl” which is is meant to be an

white characters. The purpose of pointing out this problem is to understand that their is a not

their hair, features, and skin tone. I plan on illustrating 3 short books. 1) teaching them to love

only a lack of representation but is to also point out the racism.

book parents to how their black black children to remindin them blackaffirmations editors at the timethat had to be could carefulread with childreneveryday were represented the to love their hair. 2.)by teaching them love theirexperience skin. 3.) teaching their African features. children’s books showing thetoreal black rather them than to anlove offensive caricatures or As

far as how this will be illustrated I plan on using watercolor to illustrate. Watercolor as a medium

as been used in most children’s books because it creates a smooth pleasing aesthetic to the eye. harmful stereotypes that affects African American children’s self esteem. In this article it

Also children are more likely to identify more to hand drawn images because children have more access to mediums like watercolor therefore can see themselves within the illustrations. According to an article titled, “ Reading in Color: Children's Book Illustrations and Identity Formation for Black Children in the United States” by Jacque Roethler states that, “ The Tina that shows the relationship between her and her grandmother. Throughout the research this Illustrations that children encounter in their early literacy/ sensory experience can become early building blocks of their thinking and can form their overall identity”

mentions a book called, “Sunflowers for Tina” which illustrates the story of a young girl name

book was very important because it highlights the idea that black characters in children’s books •I also want to include a motion graphics animation segment that is going to correspond/do a

are just likeover normal people who go though normal and different not just black voice of some of the story in the book. Theexperiences video will show black face girls all ranging caricatures. On the book cover illustration, colors such as yellows, oranges , and reds are very

Scott 7 Scott 6 Corduroy by Don Freeman Scott 6 Corduroy by Don Freeman

Two examples of the oasis syndrome in Children’s books would be the the books , Corduroy by Don Freeman and Who’s in charge of Lincoln by Dale Fife Both of these book series have main black characters in them. However in both series have the rest of the characters and even the authority figures are predominantly white.

Example of how the Oasis Syndrome is presented in children’s books Corduroy . Notice how in the first image with the girl and her mother are shown in a laundromat are the only black characters in the room.

The Book Dear Black Girl Series avoids uses harmful visual stereotypes such as black face and the Oasis syndrome because it can affect the child’s self image and in turn can carry that low self esteem to adulthood, which is also why the series target audience is from 6-12. Throughout the series the use of blue and orange vibrant watercolor paint are very present as a

design element to convey the message of self love and self esteem. This is because bright vivid colors also stimulates the cognitive skills in a child’s mind. According to an article titled, The Contribution of Painting to Children’s Cognitive Development by Elliot W. Eisner states that, “the rhythmic movement of the arm and wrist and the stimulation of watching lines appear where none existed before is very satisfying to the child’s cognitive development and fulfills their ‘function pleasure’ ” The purpose of The Dear Black Girl Series is to convey a handmade painterly style to convey that same stimulation so the child is more connected through the illustrations and for that reason children also need themselves doing what the artist can do as well as interpret the visual messages in the works of other artist according to and article titled, Children's Books: Visual Literacy: Exploring Art and Illustration in Children's Books by Lee Galda and Kathy G. Short. Another interesting detail about children’s books is that children learn that the images and ideas are not physically present rather, symbolized by images or illustrations. One of the books of the series, The Dear Black Girl: The Skin You Are In is heavily illustrated with most of illustrations taking up both spreads, upon research, “picture books offer a unique

opportunity for children to develop visual literacy because they are able to return to the visual images in the book to explore, reflect, and critique the images.” (Lee Galda and Kathy G. Short) This Book, The Keys to My Kingdom by Lydia Dabcovich which is a retelling of an old nursery rhyme uses color pencil illustrations as a design element. The story is about a young girl

whose keys are actual brushes and the paints invite the reader to find their own keys to the kingdom. This interactive book encourages the reader that they are artist and authors to their own story. The book also has text that has English, French, and Spanish that also encourages oral participation.

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expressing from the child’s perspective. Another example of a unique children’s book that uses Alia Scott Graphic Design Capstone Jan 26, 2021 Proposal

visual literacy and an interactive element is a book called Margritte: An Art Play Book. This

Proposal Topic:

illustrations to the intrigue children’s visual cognitive literacy. Dear black girl also uses a

technique that emphasizes text by making certain words of the text/ story bigger so the reader

book allows children to explore through the artist complex and detailed art through using type and close up images of the artist work. The illustrations use interesting inception- like

can remember the most important key words and phrases.

Specific Area of the Field of Design: •Children’s book •Psychology • Illustration How will this be donebefore ?: As previously mentioned in the research a child can easily identify with this hand drawn •For mybecause capstonethey my book series be called, “Dear Black which is meant to be that an illustration can see thewill rhythmic movement of the girl” paint/ colorispencil strokes affirmations book that parents could read to their black children everyday to remind them to love their hair, features, and skin tone. I plan ontoillustrating short books. 1) teaching them to love the illustrator made which is very satisfying the child’s3 cognitive mind. their hair. 2.) teaching them to love their skin. 3.) teaching them to love their African features. As far as how this will be illustrated I plan on using watercolor to illustrate. Watercolor as a medium as been used in most children’s books because it creates a smooth pleasing aesthetic to the eye. AlsoDear children areGirl more likely to identify more to hand drawn images because children have Black also includes an interactive element that includes a Journal entry formore each access to mediums like watercolor therefore can see themselves within the illustrations. According to an article titled, “ Reading in Color: Children's Book Illustrations and Identity of the readers to express their feelings and struggles of being a black girl in America. According Formation for Black Children in the United States” by Jacque Roethler states that, “ The Illustrations that children encounter in their early literacy/ sensory experience can become early to urmc.rochester.edu, Journaling has being proven to help with reducing stress, copying with building blocks of their thinking and can form their overall identity”

depression, Helping you prioritize problems, fears, and concerns, etc. Dear Black Girl not only •I also want to include a motion graphics animation segment that is going to correspond/do a voice over of some of the story in the book. The video will show different black girls all ranging illustrates a portrayal of black representation but also includes the importance of writing and

Throughout the book the illustrator uses type and illustrations to enhance the reader’s experience. Some pages may be full page while other may be half a page.

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Scott 10 In conclusion, The purpose of this research was to show that black representation in children’s book’s needs to be a priority in the publishing world because it helps a group of people, most specially Black African American girls into loving and building themselves up so they can avoid the burdens of low self esteem in their adulthood.This research was also to educate people from the outside the importance of black representation, the discrimination throughout the media and children’s books throughout the years, and the design techniques and elements that many illustrators use in order to communicate their children’s audience.

Cite Bibliography

Bryant, S. L. (2019). The Beauty Ideal: The Effects of European Standards of Beauty on Black Women. Columbia Social Work Review, 11(1), 80–91. https://doi.org/10.7916/cswr.v11i1.1933 Pescosolido, B., Grauerholz, E., & Milkie, M. (1997). Culture and Conflict: The Portrayal of Blacks in U.S. Children's Picture Books Through the Mid- and Late-Twentieth Century. American Sociological Review, 62(3), 443-464. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from http:// www.jstor.org/stable/2657315 Chall, J., Radwin, E., French, V., & Hall, C. (1979). Blacks in the World of Children's Books. The Reading Teacher, 32(5), 527-533. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from http:// www.jstor.org/stable/20194821 Richardson, J. (1974). Black Children's Books: An Overview. The Journal of Negro Education, 43(3), 380-400. doi:10.2307/2966530 Braam, H. (2021, March 11). The psychological effects of colors. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https://www.colorpsychology.org/ LATIMER, B. (1973). CHILDREN'S BOOKS AND RACISM. The Black Scholar, 4(8/9), 21-27. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/41163579 Eisner, E. (1982). THE CONTRIBUTION OF PAINTING TO CHILDREN'S COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT. The Journal of Education, 164(3), 227-237. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/42772865 Galda, L., & Short, K. (1993). Children's Books: Visual Literacy: Exploring Art and Illustration in Children's Books. The Reading Teacher, 46(6), 506-516. Retrieved March 25, 2021, from http://www.jstor.org/stable/20201117 Journaling for mental health. (n.d.). Retrieved March 25, 2021, from https:// www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx? ContentID=4552&ContentTypeID=1

Problem:

Black representation is not shown as often in the media such as children’s books

which in turns causes African children not see themselves as worthly enough when it comes to certain things like their hair, skin, or features. but to also educate people from the outside the importantance of black representation in children’s book and media.

solution:

creating an Affirmation book series called, “Dear Black Girl” which illustrates

3 books that uplift black girls by encouraging their hair, skin tone, and features.

collaterals that will be inlcuded in project

inspiration

Book 1 thumbnails

choosen design

Book 2 thumbnails choosen design

choosen design

Early type roughs

Choosen Typeface for book title:

Always in my heart Choosen secondary Typeface:

Mellow Yellow Colorguide:

Rough handrawn illustration covers before scanning into computer

Dear Girl Dear Black Black Girl The Hair hair You You SlaY The Slay WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY ALIA SCOTT

Dear Black Girl The skin you are in

hair just yet. This book contains different types of hair

styles, textures, and colors so that all girls with curly hair

quotes and affirmations for the girls to read out loud but

can feel not only included but beautiful as well .

also a journal entry for the girls to express their emotions.

ear Black Girl: The Hair You Slay is an Affirmation book for African American girls or African girls that don’t exactly know the beauty of their

WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY ALIA SCOTT

ear Black Girl: The Skin You Are In an Affirmation book for African American girls or African

Dear Black Girl T h e s k i n y o u a r e i n

Dear Black Girl T h e h a i r y o u r s l a y

Dear Black Girl The Hair You Slay

Dear Girl Dear Black Black Girl The Theskin hair you're You SlaYin WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY ALIA SCOTT

girls that don’t exactly know the beauty of their

skin tone just yet. This book contains not only different

“It’s inspirational ”- Charlesbridge

“So inspiring ”

- New York Times

Alia Scott

Dear Black Girl the features you have

ear Black Girl: The Features You Have is an Affirmation book for African American girls or African girls that don’t exactly know the beauty

Dear Black Girl T h e f e a t u r e s y o u h a v e

Final Covers completed of their features just yet. This book illustrates the different types of features that African Americans have whether that be their nose, lips, etc.

“Extrodinary ”

- Sleeping Bear Press

Dear Black Black Girl Dear Girl Thefeatures hair YouyouSlaY The have WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY ALIA SCOTT

Alia Scott

rough illustrations of book spreads before final

Final Spreads

Promotional poster

referance

rough

final

Full collateral minus motion graphics ad and book spreads