Book Power
Share
Book Publishing and Author Services provided by Detroit based anthropologist Zarinah El-Amin.
06/05/2026
It's finally live! 🎉
After months of preparation, rehearsals, revisions, and more than a few nerves, my TEDx Talk is officially out in the world.
Standing on that red circle was an honor I'll never forget.
The talk is called:
🎤 When an Elder Dies, a Library Burns
This message is deeply personal to me.
After losing both of my parents, I realized something heartbreaking: there were stories I would never get to hear, questions I would never get to ask, and pieces of our family history that were gone forever.
That experience changed the direction of my life and ultimately led me to create Legacy Storykeepers.
In this TEDx Talk, I share why I believe the stories, wisdom, lessons, and memories of our elders are among the most valuable inheritances we can leave behind.
I'd be honored if you watched it.
And after you do, I'd love for you to come back and answer this question:
👇 What's one story, lesson, or piece of wisdom from an elder that has stayed with you throughout your life?
I can't wait to read your responses.
And if this message resonates with you, please share it. You never know who needs the reminder to ask the questions while they still can. ❤️
She had just come from a book festival, meeting other authors and hearing about their self-publishing journeys.
And her reaction was honest:
“There’s no way I could have done that on my own.”
Because writing your story isn’t just about putting words on paper—it’s about having a process, support, and guidance along the way.
She followed a structured path… and completed her book in six months.
That’s what made the difference.
If writing your story has been on your mind, maybe it’s time to explore what support could look like.
Watch the full conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/m22d0pD52k8?si=S71JZGHWetY4BowT
Not everyone is looking for the “highlight reel” version of a place.
Some people want something deeper.
To walk through the village.
To understand the history.
To experience what life is really like beyond what’s shown.
She told him:
“You already have your niche.”
Because what sets you apart isn’t doing what everyone else is doing—it’s offering something real.
And that’s what people remember.
When you travel, do you prefer the highlights… or the deeper experience?
Watch the full conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/m22d0pD52k8?si=S71JZGHWetY4BowT
She describes being raised in a village—not just a place, but a way of life.
Land that had been passed down after slavery.
Families rooted in history.
Generations growing together.
It was a space that shaped her values, her faith, and her sense of community.
Where elders were respected and everyone had a role.
At the time, it may have felt normal.
But looking back, it was something much deeper.
It was inheritance.
Did you grow up in a community that shaped who you are today?
Watch the full conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/m22d0pD52k8?si=S71JZGHWetY4BowT
There was a time when going to therapy carried a stigma.
People would say, “You must be crazy to talk to someone.”
So she kept it to herself.
She would leave work, park where no one could see her, and quietly go in.
Not because she didn’t need help—but because of what people might think.
She said that once she experienced it, she realized how helpful and healing it truly was.
Times have changed… but for some people, that stigma is still there.
Do you think we’ve fully moved past that?
Watch the full conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/m22d0pD52k8?si=S71JZGHWetY4BowT
“You don’t let anyone write your story for you.”
Not what people said about you.
Not what they told you that you couldn’t do.
She talked about learning how to chart her own course—and turning negative experiences into something meaningful.
That’s a powerful shift.
How much of our story is shaped by what others told us?
And how much can we take back?
Watch the full conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/m22d0pD52k8?si=S71JZGHWetY4BowT"
She failed her doctoral exam. Twice.
And she knew she understood the material—but when it came time to take the test, everything fell apart.
Her mind would race. She couldn’t focus.
It didn’t make sense.
Until someone suggested she get evaluated.
That’s when she was diagnosed with ADD.
And her response was powerful:
“For the first time, I didn’t feel stupid.”
That moment changed how she saw herself.
Have you ever had something finally “make sense” after struggling for so long?
Watch the full conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/m22d0pD52k8?si=S71JZGHWetY4BowT
This isn’t theory.
This is lived experience.
The lessons we carry didn’t come from books…
they came from our families.
The question is:
Are we preserving those lessons for the next generation?
He was too sick to speak.
All she could do was sit with him… and hold his hand.
She happened to take a photo in that moment.
And not long after, he passed.
She said something that stayed with me:
“He passed the torch.”
Not through words—but through presence.
Through that final moment together.
Have you ever experienced a moment that felt like a passing of something deeper?
Watch the full conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/m22d0pD52k8?si=S71JZGHWetY4BowT
She said the first time she stepped onto the motherland, she left with a level of confidence she had never felt before.
Not because of comfort—but because of connection.
She found a deeper sense of who she was.
That experience stayed with her.
So much that she made a commitment to take others back—to give them the same opportunity to experience that kind of transformation.
She’s gone back multiple times, even living in a village with no running water.
And she calls it one of the greatest experiences of her life.
Have you ever had an experience that changed how you see yourself?
Watch the full conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/live/m22d0pD52k8?si=S71JZGHWetY4BowT
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
Category
Contact the business
Address
Detroit, MI