Ashanti at Essence Festival.Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty
“The stories were like, ‘I’m so glad that you’re doing this because I always felt embarrassed when it was time for the teacher to call out everyone’s name and she would stutter on my name,’ " Ashanti tells PEOPLE about her conversations with fans. “I didn’t want them to feel like that.”
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HarperCollins Children’s Books
“I didn’t get bullied and beat up, but it was always maybe a little giggle, maybe a little, ‘Well, why is your name like that?’ " says Ashanti, who shares that she plans on having her own children soon. (And she has some names already picked out!) “I was fortunate enough to have a mom that genuinely encouraged me and taught me very early that my name is beautiful.”
Ashanti, who recentlyearned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, has been working on a slew of projects. (Her new single “Falling for You” will drop in a couple of weeks. She also has a film she executive produced with Cedric The Entertainer coming out at the end of the year.)
“I want kids to feel like, ‘Wow, I’m so lucky that I get to have something different that no one else has,’ " says Ashanti. " ‘My name is unique, and my name has a meaning.’ "
The Grammy winner wants to teach her future children this same lesson. She tells PEOPLE that she plans on having a child “soon” and would like to have a couple of them.
“It’s just been a lot going on these past few years. It feels like my career is re-surging,” Ashanti says. “So, there’s so much going on, but I’m definitely planning on chilling soon and experiencing that.”
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“I want my kids to have such an open mind. I want my kids to embrace everyone and be strong and be brave, and be loving and be giving,” she says. “I think my kids are going to be awesome. I think everyone’s going to love my kids. They’re going to be funny… They’re going to be good [and] extremely well-mannered.”
At the end of her book’s dedication, Ashanti writes a sweet message to her “future child.”
“Yes! Your name will be unique and special too!”
source: people.com
