Book cover of Recognize Anthology

Recognize: An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life – The Conversation

Many times, the Brown Bookshelf family turns to Wade and Cheryl Hudson for inspiration and institutional knowledge of Black creatives in publishing – both our triumphs and our tribulations. It was our honor to sit with the Hudsons and contributors Nikki Grimes and London Ladd to talk about their latest project, an innovative and groundbreaking [ Read the full article… ]

Andréa Butler head shot

Putting Black Girls at the Center: A Chat with Andréa Butler of Sesi Magazine

Sesi Magazine celebrates the dynamic and multifaceted lives of Black girls and young women in ways that are thoughtful, joyful, and inspiring. And that’s no surprise — publisher and editor-in-chief Andréa Butler is all that and more. A t the age of seventeen, the magazine-loving Andréa decided that if the magazine world continued not to [ Read the full article… ]

OPAL’S GREENWOOD OASIS: History in Full Color

The upcoming centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre on May 31, 2021 – June 1, 2021 offers us the opportunity to hear from Black creators telling the story of what happened in the Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1921 through books, television, film, radio and other planned public programs. Three Black creatives in Oklahoma [ Read the full article… ]

Making Our Own Market: Wade & Cheryl Hudson

For the last post in the Making Our Own Market series, we hear from trailblazers Wade and Cheryl Hudson.  Award-winning children’s book creators and founders of Just Us Books, they share important history and perspective. What progress have we made? How can we keep pushing for sustained change? We’re honored to feature the wisdom of [ Read the full article… ]

Making Our Own Market: Marti Dumas

Long before I saw Marti Dumas face to face, I met her through her characters – Jaden Toussaint, the big-brained kindergartner with the fly Afro, Jupiter Storm, the tween leader who loves science and becomes the caretaker of a special creature. Something about her story sensibility struck me. Black young heroes and magic. Her stories [ Read the full article… ]

Making Our Own Market: Black Children’s Books & Authors

Looking for new releases by Black children’s book creators? Black Children’s Books & Authors (BCBA) has you covered. Each month, they share a list of books that have debuted. BCBA has become a go-to source for keeping in the know. The many ways BCBA supports Black authors and illustrators include hosting cover reveals, providing an [ Read the full article… ]

Making Our Own Market: HBCU Proud by Yvette Manns

I am HBCU proud. In 1992, I graduated with a Business Administration degree from Florida A&M University’s School of Business and Industry. (Go Rattlers!) While my oldest daughter did not attend an HBCU, she is more in love with her Hillman paraphernalia than the stuff from her actual alma mater and may (from time to [ Read the full article… ]

Making Our Own Market: Tonya Duncan Ellis

We are delighted to welcome Tonya Duncan Ellis to The Brown Bookshelf. Author of the independently-published Sophie Washington chapter book series, she has worked hard to build her audience and stand out in the market. Grit, consistency and innovation are just a few of the qualities she brings to promoting her work. Here, she shares [ Read the full article… ]