Book Review: My Time to Speak

Thank you to @NetGalley and @atriabooks for the ebook My Time to Speak by @iliacalderon in exchange for my honest review.   

Happy Publish Day to My Time to Speak.  I am in the middle of reading this wonderful biography by Ilia Calderon.  I will be honest I had never heard of this remarkable lady until I picked this book on @Netgalley.  I picked this book because I wanted to read a nonfiction book about racism that was inspiring.  

I am not finished with the book yet and honestly I look forward to reading each night before I go to bed.  I am learning so much about racism and how subtle can be.  Ilia comes from an Afro-Latina community in Choco, Colombia.  I love her mother’s “work hard” attitude.  Ilia has had to overcome a lot of racial injustice in Colombia and in America.  What is inspiring about Ilida is that even though she feels she does not have a chance at some of the opportunities in her field.   She still puts herself out there and gives it a try.  She doesn’t feel sorry for herself and she challenges herself to do more and face racism head on.  

I love this quote Ilia has from her mother,  “A woman has to be like a violet, the more discreet, the more appreciated and desired.” Her mother uses this quote to let Ilia know that she doesn’t have to be loud and fashionable to get attention.  However I also think you can apply this quote to teaching people about racism as well.    I think women can make change together.  We don’t have to yell and scream but we can teach and model positive behavior and continue to inform others and that will make a better world for all.