I wanted her to grow in multiple ways and, since this was a realization I was having as I was writing, it found its way into the story.Īs a white-passing biracial teen, Neveah struggles to own her privilege and use it to fight for justice. As Nevaeh grows into herself, one of the lessons she learns is that she isn’t the only one struggling everyone around her is dealing with something, whether it be a social issue, depression, bullying, abuse, etc., including her parents. Watching her go through the scrutiny and backlash for telling her story made me take a step back and think about the way I, and I think so many people, hold their parents to such a high standard we expect them to be infallible, which isn’t fair or possible considering we are all humans. Can you say more about the journal and why you included that storyline?Īs I was writing Color Me In, the #MeToo movement was well underway and my mother joined the ranks of the many brave people who came forward about sexual abuse, assault, and harassment they had suffered at the hands of public figures. In a way, it seems like learning more about her mother helps her understand herself in a deeper way. When Neveah finds her mother’s journal, she becomes captivated by finding the truth about her. Believe me, there is a person out there going through something similar to what you are going through and would benefit greatly from your words, so keep going, fight through, and be loud. (Unless I am under a strict deadline, I have a very difficult time writing every day or meeting a specific word goal consistently.) As women, we are often taught from a young age to be quiet and polite, and that our place is somewhere tucked away neatly, or packaged in a palatable and easily accessible manner, but we have voices because we are meant to be heard. In terms of advice, the best I can give is to keep writing, even if you take breaks. ![]() I am also an only child and I spent a lot of time with myself and my thoughts, so I used writing as a way to communicate when I wasn’t able or ready to vocalize what I was feeling or experiencing. My first word was actually “book,” which, I know, sounds like something I made up for PR, but I swear it’s the truth! Both of my parents are writers my father is a poet and my mom is a playwright, so using writing as a way to express myself is a practice I have been immersed in my entire life. Have you always loved to write? What advice would you give to budding women writers, especially those trying to make sense of their identities through writing? ![]() ![]() You both write beautifully about the complexities of simultaneously inhabiting different worlds and different identities. You and Neveah, the main character of Color Me In, have a lot in common, including your love of the written word. Throughout the story, Nevaeh Levitz discovers the meaning of friendship and strengthens her connections to all of her identities. In Color Me In, Díaz pulls from her personal experience to weave a story about a girl growing up in New York City as a Black Jew. JWA sat down with author Natasha Díaz to discuss her debut novel, C olor Me In, one of our 2019-2020 Book Club picks.
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