This is a segment to honor and recognize outstanding Belizeans and their descendants for their accomplishment and contributions to life. As a proud Belizean, I believe it is imperative that we support and promote Belizeans both at home and abroad. You are an important part of our community. We hope we can inspire our children to reach for the stars.
You can nominate a candidate for Belizean Spotlight that you believe has excelled or contributed to our life.
You can nominate a candidate for Belizean Spotlight that you believe has excelled or contributed to our life.
Previous “Spotlight of the Month” can be found in the archives.
Her name is Felicia Hernandez and she is a Belizean from the town of While she was always interested in creative writing, her interest peeked in the
She was always fascinated with literature and writing. As a child, she loved to listen to stories her mother read to or told them. She was just as excited when her older brother and sister read stories from their school books. After these reading and story-telling sessions, she was anxious to get hold of these books. She would play-read or look at the pictures, so she could get the gist of the stories that were illustrated in the pictures. These early exposures gave her some advantage over her peers. She also increased her communication skills which drew her much praise from her teachers. This created enjoyment of drama and a love for the expressive reading of stories and poetry. It brings out the beauty and richness of the writing which greatly inspires her.
As Sybil Seaforth expressed it in “Writing About Fiction”, in Caribbean Women Writers, in 1990, and she quote, “Sentences strung together so eloquently that they fall like muse on a reader’s ear”. It reminded her of her Standard One teacher, whom she will refer to as V.L.D., when he read Longsworth’s “The Children Hour”, it sounded like music to her ears.
As she grew older, she wanted to address many issues that she was concerned about. Unfortunately due to societal pressures, she found herself shying away from being as articulate as she knew she was capable of. Growing up in Dangriga, the unspoken sentiment of the day was that Belizean women should be seen and not heard. She resorted to keeping a journal. In this way she could express her thoughts and feelings without reservation.
When she and her family migrated to the
Then one day she shared her work with an acquaintance, then a student at
Among other things, she thinks her interest in writing and publishing was spurred when she bought a program entitled “Writing for Children" from the Writer’s Digest. She regretted that purchase, because it was not worth the price she paid. This was in 1972; but it spurred her to enroll in a creative writing class at the
Towards the end of that same year she took a job with the
She has great interest in writing essays. She has a few unfinished pieces, which she had put aside in order to complete a children’s language book written in Garifuna and English, entitled “Nerenga”. She received a grant from UNESCO to complete this work. Nerenga was published in 1993 by Chanti Publication. The book was intended for use in early childhood education and in the home. The accompanying CD facilitates clarity and accuracy of pronunciation.
She retired from teaching in 1991 and moved with her husband to
Belizean Women Authors
New Book launched in Belize City
I would like to thank Angela Palacio for allowing me access to her article on Felicia Hernandez. You may visit Angela at her Website dedicated to all things Belize and Garifuna. Come by and visit if you are from Belize , Garifuna, friends of Belize or from anywhere in the world. http://www.apalacioexchange.com/
5 comments:
Hi Linda,
I have never heard of her before, but her book sound like something I would like to read.
Jennifer Usher
Jennifer,
Thanks so much for visiting and commenting on my blog post.
Mrs. Hernandez is an extraordinary and remarkable woman. First for raising six children,and second for all that she has accomplished. As a Belizean I admire her and think she is an inspiration that our young people should aspire and look up to.
Her book can be purchased at bookstores in Belize City. You can also click on the links below the article to find out more.
Hi Linda,
I just checked out your "Spotlight" person! Very nice write up. I like her for 3 reasons, make that four, she's Garifuna, Belizean, a writer and my cousin! Good choice of a spotlight person. Mrs. Hernandez has accomplished a great deal even while raising 6-7 kids! I feel like a wimp next to her!
Frank Palacio
Thanks Linda for keeping us informed. It is very inspiring to see that Mrs Hernandez's love of books as a child fueled her desire to be a creative writer later in life. A lesson for the children of this generation...
Nice article on Mrs. Hernandez it is good to see/read about this remarkable woman.
Keep up the good work Linda.
Thanks
Louise
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