“We have to change the narrative that the more melanin you have means you’re uglier.”

These are the words of Artist Lawrence Lindell who has created a new children’s book “From Black Boy With Love.” to let black girls know their value and to teach boys that they should respect these girls.

The book has recently been released (late March) and features 23 pages of illustrations with young boys giving uplifting messages to black girls.

wanted black girls to know they have much more value than a lack of media visibility and derisive comments from peers may lead them to believe.

So he created “From Black Boy With Love.” The children’s book, which was released in late March, contains 24 pages of illustrations of young boys expressing uplifting messages of love to young black girls.

Speaking to the The Huffington Post the artist and author said that he created this book as an alternative to what he learned as a young boy and that:

“It’s not just about the relationship between black men and women, it’s the relationship between men and women, period,”

“I’m black and my community is full of black and brown women who I love dearly and I wanted to make something for them,” he continued. “But we as men have a huge problem with how we talk, treat and think about women.”

“The first thing they go for when teasing each other is hair, body shape and skin tone,”

“’You ol’ nappy-headed, black-ass charcoal looking girl,’ ‘with yo ugly fat ass.’ We have to change the narrative that the more melanin you have means you’re uglier and that natural hair is bad or improper.”

“Black and brown boys, treat all girls with respect, but especially the ones who look like you, sound like you, live where you live; we have to take care of each other,”

Personally I love this idea and I am sure you all do too! You can learn more about the book at Lawrence Lindell Studios.