Jael Ealey Richardson grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, in a predominately white neighbourhood where writing took a backseat to athletics—that is until she stumbled upon a playwriting class at university.

At the railroad tracks where her father first learned to throw with stones, Jael begins an unexpected journey into her family's past. Author-activist Jael Richardson finally finds the part she was meant to play Jael Richardson (photo: Arden Wray) Jael Richardson remembers being in Grade 10 drama class, searching for the perfect monologue to show off her blossoming acting skills, but only able to …

Knowing very little about her father's past, Richardson was searching for the story behind her father's move from the projects of Portsmouth, Ohio to Canada's professional football league in the early 1970s. Jael Richardson and the FOLD were nominated jointly by a Canadian author who wrote: “True freedom to read requires an invitation to read broadly, to be challenged and inspired toward personal and social transformation, to meet characters beyond categories of likeness … Both books tackle issues of race, identity, prejudice and the power of perseverance. She’s the founder and director of the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD). Jael Richardson (photo credit: Arden Wray) Jael chats with #Invisibooks about CanLit, why the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) feels like fun and not work, her call to writing, tips on how to be an ally and her forthcoming new book Gutter Child (woohoo! Richardson is a columnist on CBC’s q and is two-time TDSB Writer-in-Residence.

(Editor’s Note: This is Part 1 of a 2 part in-depth interview with Jael Richardson, a Brampton author and the founder of the Festival of Literary Diversity which runs May 4 th to 7 th, 2017 in venues across Brampton.). Jael Richardson is an author, founder and artistic director of FOLD, the Festival of Literary Diversity. Jael Richardson is the author of The Stone Thrower: A Daughter’s Lesson, a Father’s Life, a memoir based on her relationship with her father, CFL quarterback Chuck Ealey.The Stone Thrower was adapted into a children’s book in 2016 and was shortlisted for a Canadian picture book award.

Sign in to like videos, comment, and subscribe. Jael Richardson talks about her Literary Journey and the Festival of Literary Diversity in ' Living Multiculturalism with Mayank Bhatt - TAG TV. Jael Richardson is the award-winning author of The Stone Thrower: A Daughter's Lessons, a Father's Life, playwright of my upside down black face, and was the writer-in-residence at the Toronto district school board in 2013. Jael is the author of two books telling the story of her father, Chuck Ealey. Jael Richardson (photo credit: Arden Wray) Jael chats with #Invisibooks about CanLit, why the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD) feels like fun and not work, her call to writing, tips on how to be an ally and her forthcoming new book Gutter Child (woohoo!).. This year, she announced a spin-off festival focused on children’s literature, FOLD Kids, would be held Sept. 27 through 29. Read Part 2 of 2 | Tickets to FOLD. Jael Richardson is the author of The Stone Thrower: A Daughter’s Lesson, a Father’s Life, a memoir based on her relationship with her father, CFL quarterback Chuck Ealey.The book received a CBC Bookie Award and earned Richardson an Acclaim Award and a My People Award as an Emerging Artist.