Friday from the Archives: “Tani” a children’s story and illustrations by Mebane Holoman Burgwyn in NCLR 2006
We are always excited when a literary icon receives a North Carolina Historical Highway Marker. Earlier in November, children’s book author and activist Mebane Burgwyn received this honor in Jackson, NC. In our 2006 issue featuring Children’s and Young Adult Literature of North Carolina (a feature ripe with new material for a Flashbacks submission!), we published two pieces by and about Burgwayn: “[Her] destiny lay in the land”: An Overview of the Literature of Mebane Holoman Burgwyn by Sarah Davis
From the NC DNCR press release: “Born in Rich Square, N.C., Burgwyn graduated from Woman’s College, now UNC Greensboro, in 1935 with a degree in primary education. She later earned a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from East Carolina University in 1961. Her professional life was rooted in rural Northampton County, where she lived on a farm near Jackson and served as Director of Guidance Services for the county’s public schools.
Burgwyn authored seven books for young readers, many of which drew from her experiences in rural North Carolina. Her writing was celebrated for its authenticity and emotional depth, particularly in its portrayal of African American youth during the era of school integration. Her 1969 novel, The Crackajack Pony, was written with the explicit intention of helping white children understand the trauma and prejudice faced by Black students in the South. This work, along with her earlier novel Penny Rose (1952), earned her the American Association of University Women’s award for best juvenile book of the year.”, a prize from the NC Literary and Historical Association.
In “Tani,” a young fairy wishes for a new gown to attend her very first fairy ball. Burgwyn crafts a sweet tale about how the fairy must help a small girl to learn to be less selfish before Tani can get her gown. The story is full of industriousness and acts of kindness, qualities appropriate for the young audience it was crafted for. It would be a wonderful addition to contemporary fairy tale anthologies.
Read the entire story “Tani” on Gale Cengage. Add the 2006 issue to your collection today!
