Mwanafunzi

This project began unexpectedly while David was writing the sequel to his memoir, A Newark Childhood. When he learned his grandchild was on the way, he paused work on the memoir and began writing letters to the child before she was born. Those letters eventually became Mwanafunzi—a beautifully designed keepsake that preserves family history, faith, values, and love for future generations.

While the book is deeply personal, it explores themes that resonate far beyond David’s own family such as:

• The importance of preserving family stories before they're lost.

• The role grandparents play in shaping identity and passing on values.

• The legacy gaps many African American families continue to navigate.

• Why our greatest inheritance is often not wealth, but memory.

I believe these conversations are especially timely as more families seek meaningful ways to preserve their histories and strengthen connections across generations.