 Hey everyone and happy Black History Month. My name is Carl Phillips. I have been part of the Long Beach community since the birth I was born here. I have worked for LBPL for over 13 years and I'm so excited to be back as a guest Reading and celebrating Black History Month with you guys I have a very special book to share with you about why you matter and Without further ado, let's get started and the name of this book is actually all because you matter And this book was written by Tami Tami Charles and illustrated by Brian Collier They say that matter is in all things that make up the universe energy, star, space. If that's the case, then you dear child Long before you took your place in this world You were dreamed of like a knapsack full of wishes carried on the backs of your ancestors as they created empires pyramids and Building and venting working beneath red hot suns and cold blue moons Thinking of you years have had because to them you always Matter. On the night you were born, stars sprayed across the sky Each one full of light, hope, love and all the moments in your life that would matter Like your first steps bare feet planted on a cold floor hobbling wobbling toppling only to stand and try again Or your first words spoken almost like a lullaby notes climbing a ladder to the sky Mama Papa Mahakita or the first time you opened a book like a mirror staring back at you and What you really saw yourself same hair same skin Same dream the words and pictures coming together like sweet jam on toast music up lasting through burials sun in the blue sky all because you matter But in galaxies far away. They may seem that light does not always reach lonely planets Covered moons stars unseen as if matter no longer Exists and just like moons hitting in the dark There will be times when you too will question your place in the universe like the time you'll hear the teacher call your name Hosom was a maca your Denise and the whispers and the giggles begin followed by What kind of name is that? For the time you'll see a letter a big bold red on the page And you will question if you and your work and your effort Matter for the time when your pop-pop turns on the news and you see people everywhere Take a breath take a stand take a knee and you hear pop-pops whisper prayers as another name is called Trayvon Tamar Philando, and you wonder if they or you will ever matter But did you know that you do? Did you know that you were born from queens and chiefs and legends? Did you know that you are the earth that strength and power and beauty lie within you? Did you know that you are sun rays calm like ocean waves tough like montana's magic like stars and space? And on the day the universe was created you were thought of dreamed of Carried like a knapsack full of wishes as planets stars Moons took their places making room for you your people their dreams your future all Because since the beginning of time You mattered they mattered we matter and always Will thank you for reading with me. Happy black history month