So the We Need Diverse Books Campaign, which I talked about here, has been quite a success. The campaign went viral before it officially began. Lots of great discussion followed. Masses of people bought diverse books and requested diverse books at their local libraries. You can see what book I bought (by a POC author) last weekend on the designated day to “jump start” the buying. It was amazing.
I say “jump start” because I buy diverse books but for those who don’t think about it, last weekend’s buy isn’t a one time thing. This is just the beginning of making an effort to consistently buying and supporting diverse books. You may have bought a diverse book last weekend as part of Diversify Your Shelves or plan to this weekend. I challenge you to pay attention to what books you’re seeking out every time you go out to buy a book or take out books from the library. I challenge myself to read and review more diverse books than I do because I know I can do more. We need diverse readers. More diverse readers = more diverse books. We all play a part. Are you willing to play yours?
Also, huge congratulations to Ellen Oh, Aisha Saeed, and everyone else involved in starting this particular campaign which has led to a panel at BookCon this May! More information is here.
So many people have made lists of book suggestions. I’ve shared a short list below of some of those that I think you should check out. But before that short list, I want to share my own starter list of people and cons to become familiar with. And before that, I want to stress that diversity is not solely about race. It’s about inclusion, not separation. It’s about the complete picture. Race. Gender. Religion. Sexual Orientation. Disability. Mental illness. Etc… That said, what I’m about to say is about race.
You see, I grew up going to cons since my dad is a comic book artist. And then some. I remember when he came home with copies of Afro-Bets Quotes for Kids: Words for Kids to Live By which he illustrated. In 1999. We need diverse readers. I grew up with black artists and writers all around me and it wasn’t until this campaign that it really hit me that people who are not within certain communities, really do not interact in them unless it’s brought to their attention. Again. We need diverse readers. I want to bring to your attention what I’ve known for years.
The Black Panel at Comic Con. In the last few years, it’s taken place every year. It’s not just for black people. Go to diverse panels. Educate yourself. Find out what artists and writers outside of who you already know are up to. These writers and artists may be new to you but they’ve been at it for YEARS. They’ve been at the “support diverse books” campaign for years. I know because I’ve been at the panel, seen the same faces in the audience/heading to the panel… moreso I’ve sat with diverse artists on the exhibit floor, seen mostly POC stop at the booths and not many, if any white people stop at the booths. I can’t speak for other POC but I do know that the black community is alive and kicking at cons. Always has been. If you’re unaware, you weren’t looking. Now here’s my starter list and short list to get you started…
* Just Us Books published Quotes for Kids and it has published so many more since!
* Illustrator, Jerry Craft‘s upcoming illustrations can be seen in the Scholastic book, Bakari Katari Johnson and The Zero Degree Zombie Zone written by Essence Magazine entertainment producer, Patrik Henry Bass. Craft also co-produced the 2nd Annual Black Comic Book Festival this past January at the New York Public Library. Mark your calendar for next year!
* Prof. William Foster
* Princeless by Jeremy Whitley, writer and Mia Goodwin, artist (Add it to Goodreads)
* African-American Classics Graphic Classics Volume 22
* The East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention (Philadelphia, PA)
* ONYXCON (Atlanta, GA)
* Annual African American Children’s Book Fair (Philadelphia, PA)
Other Links + “We Need Diverse Books” Posts:
* Diversity in YA compiles a list of new releases that are diverse every month. Check out the archive. You will be in heaven!
* Librarian & YA Author, Mindy McGinnis (Not A Drop To Drink)
* YA Author, Lenore Appelhans (The Memory of After)
* Blog, Novel Sounds
* Lee and Low Books Blog
I hope these links are helpful! I hope you’re encouraged to go out and see what’s been there the whole time but not only that, I hope you do all that you can to support what’s out so the diverse books that are out don’t go out of print like so many have, so the diverse books that are not yet out have a chance to be published and published more widely with more promotion behind them. Buy diverse books. Check out and request diverse books at the library. Donate diverse books to the library. Do everything you can so you can see the whole picture and share it with others and if you need a reminder why, there are thousands in the #WeNeedDiverseBooks hashtag.