Reading with Robert: SE DC author highlights father-son relationships in Black communities
WASHINGTON (7News) — This week in Reading with Robert we're focusing on a series of books. And it's brought to us by author Glenn Allen from Southeast D.C.
The series is called "The Adventures of Gabe the Mighty." Allen based the series on his son Gabe. Gabe saves the world using only his imagination.
Allen tells 7News Anchor Robert Burton that he had a hard time finding books with characters of color. So, he wrote one himself. He gathered all the stories from his childhood, mixed them with Gabe's and created the series.
One book that sticks out from the rest to Burton is "The Brand New Super Shiny Uber Glossy Sparkling Red Bike." It shows the importance of a father-son relationship -- especially in communities of color.
"It's important to me, it's important that we see a Black male image because then it allows the son to have a vision of what he can be. And so the vision of the father as the helper who takes him through the process of building, the process of learning," Alan said. "It allows, you know, to give him an anchor as a boy to a man."
SEE ALSO | Reading With Robert: 7News supporting literacy in the DMV community and schools
He tells 7News he had a hard time finding books that represented that as well.
Now, in every book, there is a superpower. Those superpowers range from responsibility to courage. In this particular book, the superpower is belief.
On Tuesday, Robert is headed to Longfields Elementary School to read to the students.
If you'd like Robert to come to your school, you can suggest schools and locations in the form here. You can also reach out to him directly on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
