These students just had a day in Brooklyn they will never forget.
Students from local elementary schools across the city were treated to a special book reading by none other than Grammy award-winning singer Ashanti on Wednesday. The singer visited the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in Crown Heights to read her inspiring new children’s book “My Name is a Story."
The reading was held as part of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ new “New York City Reads” initiative, launched just last month to boost reading levels for kids in the city. Half of the City's students are not proficient at reading, the NYC Department of Education said during the announcement.
Ashanti, who is from Glen Cove, Long Island, first became interested in singing when her mother overheard her singing around the house and remarked on her talent and clear passion. Ashanti then began to compete in local talent shows and eventually got signed to Murder Inc. Records as a teenager.
In the early 2000s, she created a string of R&B hits including “Foolish,” “What’s Luv?” and “Always on Time,” which have remained classics at clubs and cookouts. The singer broke the record for most albums sold in a week for a debut album by a woman in 2002, selling more than 505,000 copies of the self-titled album. The following year, she won a Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album.
Her new book, “My Name is a Story,” tells the autobiographical tale of a young Ashanti facing criticism for her unique name from teachers and classmates. In the story, she turns to her affirming parents who explain the origins of her name and instill her with a sense of pride.
“It's so important to make sure that people know how to pronounce your name and people spell your name correctly and say your name correctly because it is so important to who you are," Ashanti told the crowd of children.
She also took the time to answer students’ questions, as well as give out hugs.
When a student asked how Ashanti’s mother came up with her name, her mother Tina Douglas, who managed Ashanti for her entire career, took the microphone and shared the story.
Douglas first heard the name when watching the 1979 film “Ashanti” while pregnant with the singer, and was inspired by the film’s depiction of the strong women of the Ashanti empire in Ghana.
"Ashanti means woman of strength," said Douglas.
During the event, Ashanti was presented with a citation from the mayor's office by DOE Chief of School Support Danika Rux and Deputy Chancellor of the DOE Carolyn Quintana.
It began to rain toward the end of the outdoor event but no one seemed to mind. The singer posed for photos with each class present, and it was clear that the teachers were just as excited to see her as the students.
To the delight of kids and grown-ups alike, Ashanti serenaded the audience with a short a cappella performance of her hit “Foolish,” after reading along with the students.
Just in case you're thinking "My heart can't take no more," get ready: The singer told the crowd she plans to write more books in the future.
