Allison Butters-Grant celebrated as phenomenal woman
Kid faces uncomfortable truths in her life
“Genesis Begins Again” by Alicia
D. Williams
c.2019, Atheneum Books for
Young Readers
$17.99 / $23.99 Canada
384 pages
By Terri Schlichenmeyer
Leave me alone.
That’s what you’d like to tell
just about everybody right now:
go away. Stop talking to me.
Don’t fuss, quit fighting, put
away those bad words. You’re
done, so leave me alone. As in
the new book “Genesis Begins
Again” by Alicia D. Williams,
life is much easier if you don’t
rely too much on people who
hurt you.
The Mean Girls at her old
school were dumb.
Thirteen-year-old Genesis
Anderson had proof: the list they
circulated was titled “100 REASONS
WHY WE HATE GENESIS”
but only 60 things were
on the list and some were totally
lame.
Whatever. Every now and
then, Genesis added her own
entries to the list.
She hated that she let Mean
Girls get away with being mean.
She hated herself because her
dad drank too much and gambled
Caribbean L 32 ife, Feb. 1–7, 2019
with rent-paying money,
so her family moved a lot. She
hated having to stay with her
grandma, however temporary it
was each time. Most of all, she
hated her dark skin and her
tangly-thick curls, and that she
didn’t inherit her mother’s coffee
with-milk complexion and
“good hair.”
She could’ve added that
she hated having fake friends
but, after yet another publicly
humiliating home eviction,
more promises from dad, and an
upgraded rental, she’d first see if
a new school and another fresh
start made any difference.
Thankfully, as it turned out,
things weren’t bad at Farmington
Oaks Middle School, just
outside Detroit. In the beginning,
Genesis kept to herself
because there were Mean Girls
there, too, but she was happy to
see that most of the kids were
nice. She began to make real
friends, and she found her first
BFF. She even liked her teachers,
including the one who encouraged
her talents as a singer.
But none of these positives
changed Genesis’s view of herself
as “ugly.” Dark skin, “nappy”
hair, there had to be a way to fix
it. Once she learned the secrets
in her family, past and present,
there was just no way she could
accept herself as she was…
Starting with an awkward
situation with frenemies, author
Alicia D. Williams introduces
9-to-13-year-olds to an observant,
smart-but-typical kid with
modern problems, including a
kind of racism that’s not often
discussed. What ultimately happens
is a shocker to the story,
in part because we’re abruptly
told the truth about some of
the adults in Genesis’ life and
though it explains a lot, it’s not
pretty. We learn of this ugliness
when she does, presenting an
opportunity for readers to think
about (and deal with) topics that
might be new or uncomfortable.
Happily, it’s all done with
the barest, mildest profanity
and absolutely zero unnecessary
drama. Also nice for both you,
and for your young reader: the
friends Genesis makes are reallife
real, and adults in this book
are portrayed without a hint of
malice or ridicule.
For a middle-schooler, this
book set in a middle-schooler’s
life is perfect, especially if their
life isn’t. Hand your child “Genesis
Begins Again,” and she won’t
be able to leave it alone.
Book cover of “Genesis Begins Again” by Alicia D. Williams.
By Tangerine Clarke
It was a celebration filled
with heartwarming tributes,
for Allison Butters-Grant, and a
call to action by brave daughter
Tiffany Sobers-Smith, to tell
someone in life how inspiring
and impactful they are, saying,
“mom, you left a great life for
us in this world, thank you so
much for being an awesome
mom.”
“Many said my mother
inspired them, if someone
inspires you, tell then in life,
because I don’t think my mother
knew the impact she has had
on people’s life.”
“I am so proud and impressed
with what she did. Thank you
for being my mother, said the
eldest child during an emotional
home-going service for
the owner and CEO of Global
Seafood Distributors of Guyana,
who lived for family and
community.
She died on Jan. 13, 2019
after a brief illness.
St. Matthews A.M.E Church
in East Orange NJ, on Wednesday,
Jan. 23, overflowed with
mourners, diplomats, politicians,
organizations, African
drummers, and a NJ Women’s
Empowerment Movement
honor guard, to salute the outstanding
Guyanese-American,
founding member of the Guyana
American Heritage Foundation,
annual Guyana Independence
Flag-raising in East
Orange, NJ.
Ted Green, mayor of the City
of East Orange, who presented
a Posthumous Proclamation
to her family, called Butters-
Grant a friend of 14 years. “She
had an engaging spirit about
her, didn’t matter where she
was, she always reached out
to me. She said never forget
about the people. She was a
caring person who loved her
family, and her community.”
“Lets hold on to her memory,”
as he extended condolences
to the Butters-Grant family
on behalf of East Orange.
A generous gift of fish from
then, Seafood Market in East
Orange owner, was one of his
greatest memories, said City
Council Member, 3rd Ward
East Orange, Bergson Lenius,
noting that Butters-Grant
always encouraged him to
embrace his Nigerian roots
and “our diversity. She was a
pillar in this community.” A
Posthumous Proclamation was
then handed over.
Assembly Woman of the
34th District in NJ, Britnee
N. Timberlake, stood with the
Women’s Empowerment Movement
to honor the former East
Orange Zoning Board Commissioner,
Caribbean Medical
Mission, and Guyana Medical
Mission board member. She
said Allison was a strong powerful
woman who inspired others.
“She always helped people,
and loved her family. She gave
back to the community, Allison
Butters-Grant was the best
of the best, the cream of the
crop she was an amazing person.
Internationally, she will
be missed by all of our districts,
NJ and the world, said
AW Timberlake, presenting a
Posthumous Proclamation to
the Butters-Grant family.
Consul General of Guyana
to New York, Barbara Atherly,
said that everything the
former Guyana Chamber of
Commerce, and Guyana Miners
Association member touched
was profoundly strengthened
through her vision and ingenuity,
noting that she became
a household name in the seafood
industry that created
much-needed employment for
her fellow Guyanese.
“To whomever will take up
her mantle, I send prayers
and best wishes for continued
growth.”
To husband, Kerwin, daughters,
Tiffany, and Tricina, and
grandson Declan, I pray that
you be comforted knowing that
her living was not in vain.”
Allison Butters-Grant. Photo by Tangerine Clarke