Hi Everyone, It’s me Taylor Richardson aka Astronaut StarBright. I am a high school student at The Bolles School in Jacksonville, Florida. As an advocate, speaker, a disruptor for good my focus is on shining a light on inclusion and diversity in STEM (science technology engineering and math) through  advocacy and philanthropy work. Through this work, my goal is to bring a sisterhood of warriors with me all the way to the stars and beyond by disrupting the status quo where girls especially Black girls like me have equal representation at the table. Yet many of you know me also as the #gofundmechallenge kid.  And I guess I’ve kind of lived up to that title with previous successful campaigns like the #HiddenFiguresChallenge, #AWrinkleInTimeChallenge, #CaptainMarvelChallenge, #BlackGirlsLEADChallenge, to name a few that have inspired many to create their own campaigns and platforms for good. Well I’m back and I’m calling on you to accept my next challenge. It’s called #TheBlackFriendChallenge. And my goal is to get 100 (more if I can) of The Black Friend book to kids to read in hopes to start the dialogue to combat racism. Why this book? Well after reading The Black Friend by Frederick T Joseph I felt it is was so relatable and so needed for my generation right now. But don’t take my word for it. Check out a bit about it in the link below and you will see why this book should be in every school, every library and every youth (YA for young adults) hands: <a href="https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Black_Friend_On_Being_a_Better_White.html?id=Ppz1DwAAQBAJ&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;source=kp_read_button" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Black_Friend_On_Being_a_Better_White.html?id=Ppz1DwAAQBAJ&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;source=kp_read_button</a> But who is Fred you might say? Well I could say lots but remember the guy who started the #BlackPantherChallenge and raised over a million dollars to help kids see it. That was Fred. Or the guy who helped raise funds to help people with basic needs like food and keeping utilities on during the covid pandemic last year. That was Fred. Now he’s a renowned New York Times best selling author with his first book The Black Friend on Being A Better White Person. Check out the synopsis: Writing from the perspective of a friend, Fred offers candid reflections on his own experiences with racism and conversations with prominent artists and activists about theirs—creating an essential read for white people who are committed anti-racists and those newly come to the cause of racial justice. So after reading this book it made me want to make sure I could get it into as many young adult readers hands as I could.  Because if we are going to change this world especially the issues with race it might as well start with youth like you and me who will one day be running it! And Fred’s book to me is the most honest and most relatable book I’ve read in a very long time. This book might just be the book to change the world! No, whoever reads this book will be a change agent to changing the world! Period! For me I am starting this challenge because as your Black Teen Friend I want to make positive change and fight racism. If you with me, I hope you will help me and join this challenge.  Heck, I even hope my challenge  maybe will inspire YOU to start your own campaign  in your community or school. So if are you ready and willing; there is only thing left to  say; will you accept the challenge? Check out the ways you can help below: Donate to this campaign and share it or; Use my wish list and purchase it here <a href="https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/17DRRY5FUDL78?ref_=wl_share" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/17DRRY5FUDL78?ref_=wl_share</a> to mail directly to me. 


For info about Fred and his book click link.


<a href="https://www.theblackfriendbook.com"><a href="https://www.theblackfriendbook.com" target="_blank" class="" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">https://www.theblackfriendbook.com</a></a>


You’ve been challenged! 


 Sincerely, Taylor aka Your Favorite Black Teen Friend


 <img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/53961368_1610729079629058_r.jpeg" alt="53961368_1610729079629058_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" />me and Fred  <img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/53961368_1610729123956698_r.jpeg" alt="53961368_1610729123956698_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" />


<img src="https://d2g8igdw686xgo.cloudfront.net/53961368_1610729240779808_r.jpeg" alt="53961368_1610729240779808_r.jpeg" width="100%" media_type="3" />

Mesha Pemberton

Amanda Bergson-Shilcock

Katherine Odom-Tomchin

Brian Creech

Michael Seeley

Semicolon Bookstore and Gallery 

Bill Lingle

Jeremy Cole

Anonymous

Dena Hamlin

michele ganeless

Patricia O'Neill

Colin hussey

Travis Akers

William Brown

JOSEPH KELLY

michele c fischer

The Black Friend Book Challenge

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