Black history is not static, limited purely to the past—it’s made year-round. Keep reading books by Black authors and amplifying Black voices when it’s not Black History Month:
Picture Books/Early Reader
- Tami Charles – ALL BECAUSE YOU MATTER
- Ibram X. Kendi – ANTIRACIST BABY
- Nikki Grimes – BEDTIME FOR SWEET CREATURES
- Angela Joy – BLACK IS A RAINBOW COLOR
- Amyra Leon – FREEDOM, WE SING
- Laronda Gardner Middlemiss – I LOVE ME
- Alice Faye Duncan – JUST LIKE A MAMA
- Valerie Bolling – LET’S DANCE
- Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow – MOMMY’S KHIMAR
- Malcolm Mitchell – MY VERY FAVORITE BOOK IN THE WORLD
- Tricia Elam Walker – NANA AKUA GOES TO SCHOOL
- Ashley Franklin – NOT QUITE SNOW WHITE
- Kirstie Myvett – PRALINE LADY
- Doyin Richards – WATCH ME
- Derrick Barnes – WHO GOT GAME
Middle Grade
- B.B. Alston – AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS
Valerie L. Williams-Sanchez – “Celebrating the Anniversary of THE BROWNIES’ BOOK by W.E.B. DuBois”
Young Adult
Further Reading & Resources
- WNDB’s Resources for Race, Equity, Anti-Racism, and Inclusion – Includes Black-Owned Bookstores, Black-led organizations, & book lists
The Black Creatives Fund – An initiative with a mission of supporting new and existing Black writers and illustrators. It will feature three initiatives in 2021, including a Revisions Workshop (which is currently accepting applications!), a mentorship program, and a marketing symposia in partnership with the Brown Bookshelf.
- The Brown Bookshelf’s 28 Days Later – Featuring a Black creative (authors and illustrators both) every day for the month of February!
- Deadline City Podcast
– Co-hosted by WNDB COO Dhonielle Clayton: “Publishing is a big scary
world to many of us, and our goal is to pull back the curtain on some of
the mystery by simply talking about it.”
- @minoritiesinpublishing – Podcast hosted by former WNDB team member Jennifer Baker: “An
interview-format podcast where Jennifer discusses the lack of diversity
in the book publishing industry with other underrepresented
professionals working in/associated with the literary scene. Featured
guests include VPs and executive editors, literary agents, marketers,
authors, illustrators, and more.”
- J. Nailah Avery – “Black-Owned Independent Bookstores Face Unique Challenges”
- “The Free Black Women’s Library Celebrates Black Authors and Readers”
- Kaya Thomas Created We Read Too for Readers of Color
- “Stop Calling Popular Tropes in YA Novels ‘Overused’”
- “How Children’s Authors Create Change Outside of Their Books”
- Jas Perry, Literary Agent & WNDB Internship Grant Winner
- Autumn Allen – “Three Keys to Writing a Novel From a Boston Public Library Writer-in-Residence”