When Syracuse University alumnus and critically acclaimed actor Taye Diggs walked into the University Bookstore on Saturday afternoon, Kimberly Havens started shaking.

Havens, a Syracuse community member, arrived at 9 a.m. in the Schine Student Center for a book signing by Diggs that began at 2:30 p.m.

‘I love his movies and once I found out about it, I was like, ‘Well, it’s only an hour, so I better get there early,’ because I didn’t know what kind of crowd to expect,’ she said.

More than 500 people waited to see Diggs and his longtime best friend Shane Evans, the author and illustrator of ‘Chocolate Me,’ respectively. The children’s book encourages kids to appreciate their differences and raise self-esteem. The men were scheduled to sign copies of the book from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, but they arrived early and stayed an extra 20 minutes to try and meet the demand.

Diggs, known for his film roles in ‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’ and ‘Chicago’; stage performance in ‘Rent’; and a current television role in ABC’s ‘Private Practice,’ made women swoon when he took the time to talk and take pictures with every guest.

Havens said she was initially surprised to learn that Diggs became an author, but it made the signing more appealing because she hoped her 4-year-old son, Macsen, would learn from the book’s message.

In ‘Chocolate Me!’ a young boy is teased for looking different. His skin is darker, his hair is curlier and his nose is bigger than everyone else’s. The boy tells his mother that he wishes he looked like the other kids, but she teaches him to embrace his differences.

Diggs signed at least 500 people’s books and memorabilia, but, despite the extra time, another 60 to 100 people remained in line when Diggs had to leave, said Leah Deyneka, academic support coordinator for the bookstore’s general book department.

Deyneka said the bookstore sold at least 260 books, but she expected the total was actually much higher than that.

‘They were so nice and took so much time with each person that it went a little slower,’ she said.

Erica Mitchell, a graduate student studying information management, said she enjoyed Diggs’ book because it addresses how minority children feel about themselves based on their looks. This message is especially important for Mitchell’s children, Chloe, 3, and Nathaniel, 6 months.

‘I wanted my kids to have that to read, as well as my nieces and nephews. That’s why I got each of them their own book, so they can read it to their kids.’

Mitchell waited for more than 90 minutes with her kids so they could meet Diggs, who affectionately signed each of their books while addressing the children by name. Shane Evans, illustrator of ‘Chocolate Me!’ and an NAACP Image Award winner, drew faces in the children’s books as his own personal form of signature.

Diggs said he wrote the children’s book before he ever knew he was going to have children, but now that he has a son, Walker, he wants the message to be passed down to him as well.

‘I’m hyper-concerned with his well-being and hoping that he won’t be put in situations that will make him feel uncomfortable,’ Diggs said. ‘Everybody is put in situations like that. I just want him to be well-equipped.’

egsawyer@syr.edu 

Published on November 13, 2011 at 12:00 pm

Contact Liz: egsawyer@syr.edu | @3sawyer