The Mirror and Me

Kare is a young South African boy trying to adjust to a new school in New York City. When his schoolmates tease him because he is different, Kare attempts to change himself in order to fit in. After struggling with peer pressure, Kare finally realizes that in order to earn the respect of his friends, he must love himself first. Common is a Grammy award-winning artist widely recognized as one of the most gifted lyricists in hip hop. The critical success of his debut album Can I Borrow A Dollar? established him as one of the leading voices of "conscious" rap music. Common is the founder and president of Common Ground Foundation which provides support to children with AIDS worldwide; the foundation is also dedicated to students pursuing careers in the Arts. As a spokesperson for Viacom and the Kaiser Family Foundation, Common's voice has reached millions in the fight against AIDS with several ad campaigns. As one of the most respected emcees in hip hop history, Common encourages youth of all ages, not only to respect a foundation of hip hop, poetry/spoken word, but also to strengthen their power through reading. Common hopes his books will inspire children to think, write, and own the power of their own voice.