Racing for the People

Christiana is a queer African American school counselor who is dedicated to her students, walking with them as they journey toward the best versions of themselves. Originally from Sacramento, California, her educational endeavors took her to San Jose State University where she earned her B.S. in journalism, and the University of Southern California where she earned her M.Ed. in School Counseling. Writing has always been a passion of Christiana's. As an undergraduate, she was inspired by the stories of Olympic runners Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who often visited her university and motivated students to be active in making change for their communities. She recognized their stories as an unsung piece of the civil rights movement that not enough children grow up hearing. One summer she volunteered to read at a reading enrichment program for African American youth, and wanted to read a story about these Olympic heroes for the children. But there were none, so she decided to write it herself. It is Christiana's desire is to add to the vast collection of civil rights non-fiction children's stories.