“That Village” By Johnny Ray Moore Let’s all become that VILLAGE, Just like we used to be? That VILLAGE made of KINGS and QUEENS, A place of DIGNITY. Back then, WE RAISED our children, We taught them RIGHT from WRONG, When problems came and shook their FAITH, We urged them to HOLD ON. [ Read the full article… ]
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Voices of Change: A Parent Speaks
Blackness by Brenda Payne Whiteman I love my blackness Good to know who I am Hailing from my parents’ and ancestors’ Collective womb Nurturing, strong and proud I face a cold world When pain is inflicted With words that cut into my heart Sharp as a knife By looks that burn a hole in my [ Read the full article… ]
Call for Submissions – 28 Days Later
It’s that time. The submissions window has officially opened for the 11th annual 28 Days Later campaign, a Black History Month celebration of black children’s book creators. We will take nominations today through November 10th. Over the past decade, we have proudly saluted more than 250 authors and illustrators through our signature initiative. But there [ Read the full article… ]
Voices of Change: Youth Speak
Untitled -by A, 13 Strove through strife A motto for Black children Blackness is excellence We are not too dark to be noticed It is not a reason for abuse Blackness is beauty Community Magic Love Hardships Strength. They tried to shape our hands To fit only chains We made a fist. To show love [ Read the full article… ]
Voices of Change: A New Series on the Brown Bookshelf
“As we struggle to bridge the chasm and search for common ground, we must remember our strength, show our resilience and think of the children.” Those were the words of the Brown Bookshelf’s Declaration in Support of Children in November of 2016, and we reaffirm that commitment. In the wake of continued violence, bigotry, and [ Read the full article… ]
Throwback Thursday: Jesmyn Ward
Since this post was published in 2015, Jesmyn Ward has come out with two new titles: The Fire This Time is an anthological response to James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time which addressed race on the 100th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. In Ward’s anthology several writers reexamine race in America. Sing, Unburied, Sing is due out [ Read the full article… ]
Grown Too Soon
Too many times we’ve heard the refrain “gone too soon” to allude to a life cut short. A wistful phrase lamenting the potential of one who has earned their wings prematurely. Sadly, the sentiment can also be applied to children of color and the premature death of their innocence. But I’ll call it grown too [ Read the full article… ]
Throwback Thursday: Justina Ireland
As a follow-up to Tuesday’s Black Kids on Covers post, here’s a look back at one of the authors included as she discusses her first two novels and how music helped her to write them. I wonder what music she wrote to while working on her upcoming Dread Nation! Enjoy this throwback post… What [ Read the full article… ]