Books
- Just Us Books Celebrates 27th Year
In 1988, Wade and Cheryl Hudson formalized a mission they embarked upon as new parents years before: to bring to market vibrant, positive, affirming books that celebrated the diversity of Black history and culture - the kind of books they...
- Exploring Black Images In African-american Children's Literature
by Cheryl Willis Hudson “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” —words spoken in the Disney movie, “Snow White” “Who can be born black and not exalt?” —Mari Evans, author, I Am A Black Woman...
- 10 Reasons Multicultural Literature Is Good For All Children
by Cheryl Willis HudsonThe concept of "multicultural literature" can present challenges to parents who want to raise well-rounded children prepared to thrive in our global society. How does a well-intentioned parent find and select good books for his/her...
- Walter Dean Myers—more Than An Outstanding Writer
MORE THAN AN OUTSTANDING WRITERBy Wade HudsonI was stunned when I heard that Walter Dean Myers had made his transition. During the 25 plus years that my wife Cheryl and I have been involved in publishing, it seemed that Walter was always “there.” ...
- Why Multicultural Literature Is Good For All Children, By Cheryl Willis Hudson
The concept of "multicultural literature" can present challenges to mothers and fathers who want to raise well-rounded children prepared to function in the 2008 global village. How does a well-intentioned parent find and select good books for his/her...
Books
10 Steps to Promote Diversity in Children's Literature
by Wade Hudson
This article and the Diverse Books Pledge were developed by Wade Hudson following his participation in Day of Diversity, sponsored by the Association for Library Services to Children and the Children’s Book Council during American Library Association Mid-Winter 2015.
The lack of real diversity in children’s literature is a problem that has been difficult to conquer. Many have confronted it over the years, doing what they could to effect important change. In 1920, W.E.B. DuBois, Jessie Fausett and Augustus G. Dill established The Brownies Book, a monthly magazine that writer and university associate professor Katharine Capshaw Smith cites as “the beginning of Black children’s literature.”
During the decades that followed, Langston Hughes, Arna Bontemps, Effie Lee Newsome, playwright Willis Richardson, artist Lois Mailou Jones and others continued to produce works that helped to move Black children’s literature forward. In 1965, The Council on Interracial Books for Children was formed to “promote and develop children's literature that adequately reflects a multiracial society.” In 1969, Where Does the Day Go, written by Walter Dean Myers, won a Council contest and became the celebrated author’s first published book. In 1968, To Be a Slave, by Julius Lester, illustrated by Tom Feelings, was published (and earned a 1968 Newberry Honor). Virginia Hamilton’s first book, Zeely, was published in 1969. In 1970, the Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table of the American Library Association established the Coretta Scott King Award to recognize outstanding works for children written by African Americans.
Other awards recognizing the outstanding works of writers and illustrators of color followed, including the Pura Belpré Award. Duringthe past several decades, independent presses such as JustUs Books, Lee & Low Books, Arte Publico Press, Cinco Puntos, and others, have led the charge – dedicating their catalogs to quality books for children and young adults that reflect our nation’s diversity. Major publishers have added to the number of diverse books as well. Yet, real diversity in children’s literature remains a goal rather than a reality. (see: “Where are the People of Color in Children’s Books” by the late Walter Dean Myers.)
The truth is, children’s book publishing faces the same challenges that society faces when it comes to ethnic, racial and gender fairness, equity and justice. But, just as in society, we all must play a role if we are to make change that is transformative.
The Diverse Books Pledge below offers steps anyone can take to help ensure that literature for our children and young people is truly representative of who we are as a diverse world.
Wade Hudson is president and CEO of Just Us Books, Inc., independent publisher of children’s books that celebrate the diversity of Black people, history and culture. You can follow him on Twitter at @hudsonwade and find his books at http://justusbooks.com (Twitter: @JustUsBooks )
This article and the Diverse Books Pledge were developed by Wade Hudson following his participation in Day of Diversity, sponsored by the Association for Library Services to Children and the Children’s Book Council during American Library Association Mid-Winter 2015.
The lack of real diversity in children’s literature is a problem that has been difficult to conquer. Many have confronted it over the years, doing what they could to effect important change. In 1920, W.E.B. DuBois, Jessie Fausett and Augustus G. Dill established The Brownies Book, a monthly magazine that writer and university associate professor Katharine Capshaw Smith cites as “the beginning of Black children’s literature.”
During the decades that followed, Langston Hughes, Arna Bontemps, Effie Lee Newsome, playwright Willis Richardson, artist Lois Mailou Jones and others continued to produce works that helped to move Black children’s literature forward. In 1965, The Council on Interracial Books for Children was formed to “promote and develop children's literature that adequately reflects a multiracial society.” In 1969, Where Does the Day Go, written by Walter Dean Myers, won a Council contest and became the celebrated author’s first published book. In 1968, To Be a Slave, by Julius Lester, illustrated by Tom Feelings, was published (and earned a 1968 Newberry Honor). Virginia Hamilton’s first book, Zeely, was published in 1969. In 1970, the Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table of the American Library Association established the Coretta Scott King Award to recognize outstanding works for children written by African Americans.
Other awards recognizing the outstanding works of writers and illustrators of color followed, including the Pura Belpré Award. Duringthe past several decades, independent presses such as JustUs Books, Lee & Low Books, Arte Publico Press, Cinco Puntos, and others, have led the charge – dedicating their catalogs to quality books for children and young adults that reflect our nation’s diversity. Major publishers have added to the number of diverse books as well. Yet, real diversity in children’s literature remains a goal rather than a reality. (see: “Where are the People of Color in Children’s Books” by the late Walter Dean Myers.)
The truth is, children’s book publishing faces the same challenges that society faces when it comes to ethnic, racial and gender fairness, equity and justice. But, just as in society, we all must play a role if we are to make change that is transformative.
The Diverse Books Pledge below offers steps anyone can take to help ensure that literature for our children and young people is truly representative of who we are as a diverse world.
Take the Diverse Books Pledge
Wade Hudson is president and CEO of Just Us Books, Inc., independent publisher of children’s books that celebrate the diversity of Black people, history and culture. You can follow him on Twitter at @hudsonwade and find his books at http://justusbooks.com (Twitter: @JustUsBooks )
- Just Us Books Celebrates 27th Year
In 1988, Wade and Cheryl Hudson formalized a mission they embarked upon as new parents years before: to bring to market vibrant, positive, affirming books that celebrated the diversity of Black history and culture - the kind of books they...
- Exploring Black Images In African-american Children's Literature
by Cheryl Willis Hudson “Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?” —words spoken in the Disney movie, “Snow White” “Who can be born black and not exalt?” —Mari Evans, author, I Am A Black Woman...
- 10 Reasons Multicultural Literature Is Good For All Children
by Cheryl Willis HudsonThe concept of "multicultural literature" can present challenges to parents who want to raise well-rounded children prepared to thrive in our global society. How does a well-intentioned parent find and select good books for his/her...
- Walter Dean Myers—more Than An Outstanding Writer
MORE THAN AN OUTSTANDING WRITERBy Wade HudsonI was stunned when I heard that Walter Dean Myers had made his transition. During the 25 plus years that my wife Cheryl and I have been involved in publishing, it seemed that Walter was always “there.” ...
- Why Multicultural Literature Is Good For All Children, By Cheryl Willis Hudson
The concept of "multicultural literature" can present challenges to mothers and fathers who want to raise well-rounded children prepared to function in the 2008 global village. How does a well-intentioned parent find and select good books for his/her...