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When
Little Words Cause Deep Harm
by Valerie Shaw, M.PR
I became aware of the power of words as a journalist with the Los
Angeles Times in 1980. I was the first black writer with the "View
Section," now "Lifestyles," and I admit that held myself to a higher
standard, for I was the only representative of the black and brown
communities. Every day I prayed to do justice to good stories, to
report them accurately and to help the underserved.
Today, in writing for the Los Angeles Community Policing website,
here at www.lacp.org,
my goals are the same. But maybe I forgot that my work ethic of
1980 needed refreshing -- for as a journalist I have made a most
egregious error.
In my recently released book, 2 Late 4 Time Out: A Parent's Guide
To Understanding The Juvenile Justice System, I erroneously
misspoke regarding my good friend and neighbor, brilliant illustrator,
business partner and a gentle giant of a man. In one sentence, within
the Illustrator's Profile, I caused harm and injury to his reputation
and community standing. One thoughtless sentence -- one out of the
thousands written over the course of three years -- cast a bitter
pale over an otherwise triumphant effort, a book to help hundreds
of thousands of parents and caregivers of at-risk youth.
Charles Dickens, in A Tale Of Two Cities, opens with the
line: "It was the best of times and the worst of times." How true,
how true! Dickens wrote about the French Revolution; I am writing
about a Justice Revolution, one in which parents are empowered to
take control of their troubled teens through early intervention
and with thousands of specialized resources. Publishing such a guide,
knowing that it is already helping families, is truly "the best
of times." But hurting someone I love through my art, albeit unintentionally,
makes it "the worst of times" as well. What's an author to do?
While I can't recall the first edition of the book, I shall correct
my error in the second one. I can, and have, written to my illustrator-friend
and to anyone and everyone who may believe that my sentence was
written in stone and thus look at him askance. Now, I offer this
public apology to all of Highland Park, to the community I have
grown to love over my 17 year residency, and indeed, to all of Los
Angeles.
If you already have the book, 2 Late 4 Time Out, or if you're
inclined to order this first edition, I know that you'll enjoy the
more than 50 poignant illustrations by our newly discovered Northeast
Los Angeles artist in residence. But I hope you'll also clip this
editorial and insert it into your copy of the book, as a reminder
that this author, in spite of her best intentions, is not perfect.
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<= Book Cover
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Just
one of the many wonderful
illustrations by the artist =>
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For other works by Valerie Shaw please see:
Valerie Shaw
offerings of an urban woman
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