This dismissal is an excellent portrayal of microaggressions experienced by many people of color. The author presents an important example in that the Step team is often disregarded as a distinct club at the school (other clubs get scheduled at the same time, or it is snubbed as being the same as dance). These are very real issues, and Iris and her parents both notice them but struggle to fight against this covert racism. The Forgotten Girl was inspired by Black history in my hometown of Columbia, South Carolinaspecifically, the history of Randolph Cemetery, the first cemetery formally established for the city’s African-American community. Iris also experiences many struggles authentic to modern racial discrimination, including teachers who call her out more frequently than her white classmates for talking, and both teachers and students continually "forgetting" to include her in things, such as the Young Captains Award Ceremony. This is a guest post from India Hill Brown, author of The Forgotten Girl. Iris treasures the time her mother takes each evening to wrap her braids in a headscarf as they chat. She struggles with things many girls her age might understand (needing a nightlight past when it is considered socially acceptable, feeling jealous of the attention her parents give to her younger sister). This story primarily focuses on Iris, who is a well-rounded and relatable girl.
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