Synopsis
The fatal police shootings of black men in the recent past bring to focus yet again the chain of stigma, shame and silence that engulfs many lives, and entire communities and neighborhoods. A new illustrated comic book that is now helping heal the wounds and show the way forward is "Rest in Peace RaShawn Reloaded" authored by Ronnie Sidney, II, LCSW. "Rest in Peace RaShawn Reloaded" tells the graphic story of a black teenager shot and killed by a police officer who mistakes his airsoft toy gun for real. This narrative is all too common in America, and the novel brings home the fact that a young, innocent life was snuffed out too soon. Ronnie presents the violence and suffering in a sensitive, easy-to-understand and age-appropriate format for kids. This book is a good way to broach the painful but necessary conversations families across the nation are having with their children, and provides thoughtful discussion points on how to heal the legacy of distrust between African- American communities and the police who are supposed to protect them. To deal with police brutality towards black teens and adults requires building higher level of social awareness, as well as telling youngsters how to understand and behave safely and reasonably in such situations. "Rest in Peace RaShawn Reloaded", revised version of its previous version released in April, adds new material in the form of five pages a cover. The comic book has been illustrated by Traci Van Wagoner, designed by Kurt Keller, edited by Tiffany Carey Day, Francesca Lyn and Samantha Willis, and has contributions from Laurence Jones and Steve Silverman.
About the Author
Ronnie Sidney, II, LCSW, is a father, therapist, author, app developer, professional speaker and entrepreneur. He received a Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2014. Ronnie was raised in Tappahannock, Virginia, and attended Essex County Public Schools (ECPS). While attending ECPS, he spent several years in Special Education after being diagnosed with a learning disability. The stigmatization of special education created a lack of interest in school. Nevertheless, he graduated from Essex High School in 2001, but with a 1.8 GPA. With limited options regarding four-year colleges, he decided to enroll in J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in Richmond, Virginia. The following year, he transferred to Old Dominion University, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Services in 2006. Ronnie's early academic challenges ignited a passion within him to pursue social justice and to work with the youth. He has spent over eight years in the mental health and academic counseling fields and currently works as an outpatient therapist at a community services board in Virginia. Ronnie is an active member of the Richmond Association of Black Social Workers (RABSW). He founded Creative Medicine: Healing Through Words, an expressive writing program for offenders. He implemented the program at the Northern Neck Regional Jail in Warsaw, Virginia for six months before expanding the program into an LLC. The company's mission is to improve participants' social, emotional, and physical health through therapeutic writing and dialogue. In 2015, Creative Medicine: Healing Through Words, LLC published "Nelson Beats The Odds", an inspiring graphic novel that celebrates friendship, resilience and empowerment. Nelson, the books' main character, overcomes his learning disability and ADHD diagnosis with the help of his parents and special education teacher. Since releasing Nelson Beats the Odds, Sidney has been featured on Fox and Friends Weekend, MichaeLA, NPR, Understood.org, and NBC 12 News. "Rest in Peace RaShawn" completes a trinity of quality young adult literature by Sidney, including his second book "Tameka's New Dress". All three books in the Nelson Beats the Odds series inspire confidence in children, especially children of color, and encourage a fondness for reading and a heightened level of social awareness; Sidney's stories equip kids with a broader understanding of America's current culture and climate.
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