WOMEN OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INC., AT THE “DELTA AUTHORS ON TOUR” EVENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH, MAY 6. INCLUDED IN THE PHOTO ARE THE EIGHT AUTHORS WHO WERE FEATURED AT THE EVENT.
Eight authors, including Dr. Tammi McMillan-Marshall, showcased; more than 1,200 books purchased
Kids have said a lot of things to Dr. Tammi McMillan-Marshall pertaining to her latest book, “Sunni Rae’s World: What are your superpowers?” But even she was taken aback when, after reading the book to a fourth-grade class in the Pittsburgh area, she autographed one of the books to a female student, “Happy Birthday Beautiful,” and the student said: “No one has ever called me beautiful before.”
Dr. McMillan-Marshall quickly had a response: “Well, you are beautiful. You are everything that a superhero is.”
Dr. McMillan-Marshall was one of the authors featured on the “Delta Authors on Tour” event that occurred at the University of Pittsburgh, May 6. Hundreds came to the William Pitt Union to meet the authors, hear from the authors the sources of their inspiration to write, and of course, purchase the books. The Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., hosted the event, which was the home for the sorority’s Eastern Region. The Deltas’ Dallas Alumnae Chapter hosted the final leg of the tour, for the Southwest Region on June 3. Chapters in San Francisco, Winston-Salem, N.C., Oklahoma City, Joliet (Illinois) and Memphis hosted the other tour events this past spring.
The Delta authors at the Pittsburgh event included: Dr. McMillian-Marshall; Phyllis Dixon; Cynthia Freeman Gibbs; Jai Robin Jones; Sonya Ramsey; LaWanza Spears; Deborah A. Williams; and Theresa Williams-Hairston.
DR. TAMMI MCMILLAN-MARSHALL
For Dr. McMillan-Marshall, the only author from the Pittsburgh area, she never sought out to become a published author. She’s currently the Director of the Early Childhood Apprenticeship Hub at Carlow University. But she would always find herself journaling, putting her thoughts to paper. She recalled how her late mother once told her, “You are a superhero,” after Dr. McMillan-Marshall defended her dissertation as she earned her doctorate.
“That just stuck with me,” Dr. McMillan-Marshall said about her mom’s powerful statement. “My mother always inspired and motivated me, and I thought this was something (writing a children’s book) I could do and give back to inspire other little girls and boys around us.”
Helen Bowers is the president of the Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. She told the New Pittsburgh Courier she witnessed Dr. McMillan-Marshall’s “journey to literary excellence in creating a Black children’s book for Black children to see themselves. Tammi’s book was for her younger self who would have appreciated that book. The book is for any child, and those of other racial backgrounds should read the book (as well).”
There are an estimated 340 Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members who are current published authors, according to Dr. Tyi-Sanna Jones, of the Pittsburgh Alumnae Chapter. The “Delta Authors on Tour” event began in 2015 as a key program under the sorority’s National Arts & Letters Commission.
“Access to hundreds of talented Delta authors annually has enabled us to travel to endless destinations via their works and has kept us inspired, enlightened, entertained, and hopeful,” Delta Authors on Tour liaison Valerie Njie said in a statement provided to the Courier. “This event is the perfect opportunity to engage with these incredible women, purchase their books, experience a sense of self-pride, and celebrate the ‘Joy of Reading.’”
In the 30 days leading up to and including the May 6 event at Pitt, there were 1,267 books from the eight featured authors sold. Bowers called that number a crowning achievement.
And of course, Dr. McMillan-Marshall’s children’s book was a big seller.
“I want people to be inspired, I want people to fall in love with Sunni Rae,” Dr. McMillan-Marshall said about the primary character in her book. The book’s cover shows Sunni Rae soaring like superwoman, surrounded by ambitious butterflies.
This book was “created to inspire and motivate children of all walks of life,” Dr. McMillan-Marshall said, “but especially our young, Black little girls.”