By Varian Johnson In a 2020 Horn Book Magazine essay titled, “Our Modern Minstrelsy,” award-winning author Kekla Magoon discusses many of the challenges that Black writers face in the children’s publishing industry, including the expectations in tone, narrative, and purpose for a “Black” book. … [Read more...] about The Radical Act of “Normalizing” Black Lives
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VIDEO: Vong (V.T.) Bidania Talks Astrid & Apollo, Hmong Folk Tales, and More
Vong (V.T) Bidania talks about her new release Astrid and Apollo, the importance of seeing oneself in literature — and she tells us a scary Hmong folk tale. TRANSCRIPT: [We Need Diverse Books opening credits: text against an animated crinkling paper background. The text reads, "Book … [Read more...] about VIDEO: Vong (V.T.) Bidania Talks Astrid & Apollo, Hmong Folk Tales, and More
Black Girl Magic in the Dark: Accessing Inner Healing Through Personal Grief
Content note: Mentions of the pandemic and grieving/mourning the loss of a loved one By Yodassa Williams This pandemic has hit my life hit hard in the spiritual gut. Weeks before the lockdown, my favorite cousin Channelle tragically passed away in London. As the global crisis grew and need to … [Read more...] about Black Girl Magic in the Dark: Accessing Inner Healing Through Personal Grief