CAN YOU NAME THE MAN IN THE PAINTING?

I am guessing most everyone has heard of The Three Musketeers. Possibly The Count of Monte Cristo also? This is a portrait of Thomas-Alexandre Dumas. He was born in Saint Domingue - (we know it as Haiti today) in 1762. His father was a French Marquis and white. His mother. Marie-Cesette Dumas, was a black woman of African descent who was purchased by Thomas-Alexandre's father.  In 1775, Thomas-Alexandre's father took him to France. Thomas-Alexandre became a decorated general in the French army but unfortunately, he and Napoleon did not get along. He was imprisoned for two years but eventually made his way back to France where he rejoined his wife and children. 

One of those children - a son - was the prolific author, Alexandre Dumas, who wrote The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo along with many other novels, plays, and literary works. And many historians speculate that Alexandre drew inspiration for some of his characters - such as Edmond Dantès - from his father. Yet none of his characters are portrayed as black - or played by black actors - in the many theatrical works that have been produced based on Dumas' works. That is mind-boggling. What if one of the Three Musketeers or D'Artagnan or Dantès had been properly represented by a black actor? What kind of inspiration could have been provided for children of color? Think about the response to the movie The Black Panther. And now, of course, what can I do about that? 

Positive representation in books is so important. Books that present ALL aspects of diversity are needed in ALL communities. 

I stumbled upon my Alexandre Dumas "Ah-hah!" moment by reading Jewell Parker Rhodes brilliant Black Brother, Black Brother. I will talk about that book another day. Again, please read a wide diversity of books. Broaden those horizons. Look in mirrors. Open windows and doors. You will be wiser. You will gain empathy and compassion. And you'll learn things you did not know.

If you want to know more about Thomas-Alexandre Dumas, read 

The Black Count : Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and The Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss.

 It won a Pulitzer!