The HBO Family Channel kicked off its programming for Black History Month with specials about two African American heroes — Henry Box Brown and Garrett Morgan — the brainchild of Karyn Parsons, “Hilary” from the the mega-hit TV show Fresh Pr
Written and produced by Parsons, and distributed by Sweet Blackberry, The Journey of Henry Box Brown and Garrett’s Gift chronicle the struggles and successes of Brown and Morgan. Sweet Blackberry, Parsons’ company, produces African American history stories for children.
The Journey, narrated by awardwinning actress Alfre Woodard, tells the true story of a slave’s dangerous journey to freedom. Garrett’s Gift is narrated by award-winning rapper/actress/director Queen Latifah and tells of Morgan’s life and how he invented the traffic light. Parsons, the daughter of a librarian and mother to a 4-year-old daughter and 10-month-old son, talked with the Defender about her quest to educate children about their Black history. Defender:
What inspired you to tell the stories of Black history? Parsons: I’ve never heard the story of Henry Box Brown before. When I did, the story was magical in a way, and had a happy ending. It was a story of determination, courage and overcoming obstacles.
I talked about it and found that others [adults] hadn’t heard the story either. At one point my husband said that I needed to stop talking and start writing. Defender:
What was the motivation behind specializing the stories for children? Parsons: As a parent, I wanted to make sure that I did everything to educate my daughter about her history. After hearing about Henry Box Brown, I wrote about it when my daughter was 2 years old.
I wanted to make sure that other kids heard the story too. At the earliest age possible, kids need to hear about the African American heroes that aren’t well known and talked about much in school. I had no idea that my daughter was paying attention and learning about what I was doing until I Defender:
What’s next for Sweet Blackberry? Parsons: I have a bunch of ideas for the series, and sometimes they change. Many of the ideas come from people contacting our Web site, www.sweetblackberry.com. But, one of the stories I’m focusing on is William and Ellen Craft’s escape from slavery. Defender:
Will fans get a chance to see you on television or the big screen soon? Parsons: Right now I’m focusing on being a mother and the company. There is nothing on the table, but I don’t know what the future has in store.
The Journey of Henry Box Brown can be seen on the HBO Family Channel on Feb. 21, Feb. 24 and Feb. 26. Garrett’s Gift can be on the HBO Family Channel on Feb. 21 and Feb. 26. Check local listings for times.
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