Katura J. Hudson

For so many reasons, it’s a good time to get or renew your library card.  After I renewed mine at the East Orange Public Library, I visited the stacks, something I haven’t done in ages. Was glad to see my books plus titles from friends and fam. 

Author Pearl Cleage In 2006, Oprah hosted her “Legends Ball,” a three-day event honoring 25 Black women pioneers in the arts, entertainment, and civil rights. Dr. Maya Angelou. Coretta Scott King. Dorothy Height. Diahann Carroll. Ruby Dee. Rosa Parks. Lena Horne. Way makers. Risk takers. Freedom fighters. Leaders. When the “Legends Ball” special aired, I watched it over and over, newly inspired each time by the stories, the sacrifice, the sisterhood. Even more touching was the way in which the legends were honored by Oprah and the “youngins” (new generation of Black artists, activists and leaders). It was thoughtful, personal, and done with love. The legends received the gratitude that same way, with Dr. Maya Angelou reminding: “There's nothing greater than thank you.” Watching these legends receive their flowers, I knew that was true. Oprah asked author Pearl Cleage to write something special for the occasion. Her poem “ We Speak Your Names ” remains the most powerful “thank you” ...

I spent every day of Black History Month   doing something to celebrate us. Some days it was as simple as rocking a top from a Black business and reading a short blog. Other days it was back to back events and documentary deep dives. This was a priority, sometimes a challenge, and to be honest, not enough. I was looking forward to the joy. But in this climate it felt more like an act of resistance — against all the noise, negativity, anti-Blackness that’s taken the form of legislative actions, corporate rollbacks, social media posts and much more.   I know it doesn’t have to be either/or. Celebration can be resistance. And even if it takes a bit more effort to reclaim the joy in it, it’s important to heed the call to action I heard on Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw’s webinar this week. “Use every platform you have to tell the truth about who we are.” - Kaye Wise Whitehead 

January was a month. February is our month. Not only February, but especially February. Every day of Black History Month this year, I'm rocking, reading, watching, attending, and most importantly enjoying something that celebrates Black history, Black culture, or Black folks. I’ll post about what I’m doing, wearing, listening to, recommending, learning here on the blog daily.  — Feb. 1 -  Kicking off the month with this super cute, handpainted shirt from artist Cynthia Vaughn @iamcjgallery on IG Feb. 2 - Caught a replay of “We Knew What We Had” (PBS) a doc about the history of jazz in Pittsburgh, highlights the talents of George Benson, Art Blakey, Mary Lou Williams and other greats — all from Pittsburgh. Feb. 3 - Watched several eps from Crash Course - Black American History (YouTube) hosted by Clint Smith. The 51-episode series discusses the experience of Black people in America, from the arrival of the first enslaved Black people who arrived at Jamestown to the Black Liv...

On New Year’s Eve, someone on social shared a great idea. Buy from a small business at midnight so an entrepreneur would start the new year with an order. I’m always looking for an occasion to shop small, and a business owner logging in and seeing new  orders on January 1 felt as important as me eating black eyed peas and greens. So I selected two businesses I hadn’t purchased from before, scrolled, and clicked. My orders arrived on the same day less than a week later: Leverage Everything in Life Journal Wax print robes from Diop I’ve been known to skip New Year’s resolutions because I’m one of those people who feels the new year doesn’t truly start until spring. And that you can choose a new path any day of the year. But I liked this approach to welcoming 2025. Starting small . 

This cutie wrote a book report on the picture book I did with Sylvia Walker: I’m A Big Sister Now . Look at the sharp commentary! And she gave it 5 stars. Thanks Skylar!

No Skips.  You know the times you listen to music all the way through, not wanting to miss a song? That's what BlackWeek was like. Stage after stage of powerful content thoughtfully curated to help advance opportunity and economic growth in Black and Brown communities and “move the culture forward.” One of the things that stuck with me when I first heard about BlackWeek: they offered pay equity pricing in acknowledgement of the pay disparities between women, women of color and male counterparts. That intentionality showed up throughout the entire event, from the onsite barber services by Bevel to the BlackWeek app, which I'm still revisiting a week later. Congratulations and THANK YOU to the BlackWeek founders and planning team for this much-needed space, vision, and the greatness it’s inspiring!  Learn more. Photo description: 1. Joe Anthony, Dabo Che and Gabrielle Shirdan present at the “Black Lemonade” panel. Gabrielle is standing near a large screen displaying a slide that...

Sonia Sanchez turned 90 on Monday, September 9 and there was a celebration!! People paid tribute through word, dance, song. And the best thing besides hearing so many share with Sister Sonia how much she means to them and us all, was hearing her say ‘thank you’ right there from her seat, every time. Photo descriptions: Sweet Honey in the Rock perform on stage at the Schomburg; Katura, Renee Watson and Cheryl Willis Hudson together at the Schomburg step and repeat; Sonia Sanchez stands on stage at the Schomburg. She is near her birthday cake with her hands up in celebration  

Appreciation post for George Ford!  Our conversations always make me want to grab a pen and paper. At 98 (he just shared his age on Facebook) he’s full of wisdom and fire. Uncle George’s most recent charge for us? BE BOLD! Photo description: George Ford and Katura stand together behind a podium at the Schomburg following Just Us Books' 30th anniversary celebration in 2018

For Black Business Month. In honor of the entrepreneurs and creators in Black book publishing.  And in memory of my friend Raven, whose many gifts included writing. I’m holding her book Padre , which is about the time she spent in Côte d’Ivoire as a Peace Corps volunteer. Photo: Stephan Hudson Photography Photo description: Katura is wearing a gray t-shirt that reads: BLACK authors, editors, illustrators, agents, publishers, distributors and bookstores. In her hands is a paperback copy of Padre, by Raven Moore.

I never saw her at the polling place. She always went early and beat me there. And for a good 15 years, while we shared a polling location, before I signed my name I’d scan the page for hers.  Local elections. National elections. Lurline Jones Hudson’s vote was placed and counted.  I never thought about the very first time she voted. But my dad did. And he wrote a book inspired by that day and the long fight it took us to get there.  The Day Madear Voted , by Wade Hudson, illustrated by Don Tate, was released yesterday. It’s an inspiring and important story. Here’s one of my favorite spreads from the book. Madear signing her name. Photo description: Katura holds a closed copy of The Day Madear Voted, which pictured two Black boys waiting for their mom, who is peaking out of the polling booth. In a second photo, a spread from the book, Madear is signing her name and waiting in line to vote.

 Yes, February is Black History Month in the US. However simply *learning* about Black people’s contributions wasn’t the original intent of the observance. Founder Carter G. Woodson advocated for year-round study of Black history. He wanted Negro History Week (precursor to BHM) to be a celebration of all we had learned throughout the year!  I think of Black History Month as less of cram session, more of a graduation.  A few things I learned this past year: Freedom House, a Black ambulance service founded in Pittsburgh inspired today’s EMS system  https://lnkd.in/dJMSy8gt Every year BHM has a theme. This year it’s Black health and wellness. Last year it was the Black family. I’ve been celebrating for decades and had NO idea!  Entrepreneur Maggie Lena Walker, best known for being the first woman to own a US bank, was also a PR pro. She published a newsletter, pitched other media outlets to get coverage for an org dedicated to Black financial advancement, and used ...

Today is the last day of Kwanzaa. Every day of Kwanzaa (Dec. 26 - Jan. 1) focuses on a principle, collectively called the Nguzo Saba. The principle for today is Imani, which means faith. Today is also Haitian Independence Day. On January 1, 1804, Haiti made history becoming the first Black republic and the first country in the Western Hemisphere  to abolish slavery.  There’s something extra special about these two celebrations falling on January 1 — about bringing in a new year grounded in thoughts of freedom & faith. Just a bit of what’s on my mind as we welcome 2022. Happy New Year! Photo description: my fully lit kinara sits on my bookshelf, on top of fabric from West Africa. With it is a plant, a printed list of the Nguzo Saba, ears of corn, an Ankh and cowrie shells.

I bought this shirt earlier this year. I first read bell hooks in college, and this was my visual reminder to revisit the work of the woman who introduced me to Black feminist thought. I didn’t want to put it on until I had actually done what the shirt said. But today I changed my mind. It’s not too late to revisit or read for the first time. Grateful her words are eternal. Photo description: Katura smiling, wearing a white t-shirt that says ‘read more bell hooks’ five times - each line in a different color. Resource:  10 Powerful bell hooks Works on the Intersectionality of Race and Feminism  

This holiday weekend was a first for me. Actually two firsts.  For the first time in decades of family dinners, I made the dressing. From scratch with cornbread and lots of fresh sage. It’s my mama’s recipe, with my grandmother’s tweaks and it was GOOD!  I rested every day of the four day weekend. I rested *before* I got tired. And I loved it. Sleep and relaxation hit different when they’re not rewards for overworking.  Photo description: a smiling selfie of me wearing a winter white sweater, red lipstick and twists, standing in front of my mantlepiece.

Do you have a TO DO list? What about a GET To Do list? I started creating a Get To Do list to balance my growing scroll of assignments and projects with fun and relaxing things that I can look forward to. The things on my Get To Do list come with no obligation, no deadline, just a sense of freedom or joy. For me, it’s just as important to have these written reminders for fun and relaxation as it is to have them for work. Maybe more so. Photo Description : a screenshot of the notes app in my phone. It displays my "get to do list" which includes: Watch Girlfriends on Netflix Bake then eat dessert for breakfast Online dance class Outdoor exercise Catch up with some favorite folks At the bottom of the list is photo of the cast of Girlfriends.

Sometimes quotes are for inspiration. Sometimes they’re for affirmation and confirmation. Reason 5011 why I keep James Baldwin’s words with me. Photo description: selfie of me in a gray t-shirt, with James Baldwin’s quote in white text: “I can’t believe what you say because I see what you do.”

A meeting was removed from my calendar today. Instead of filling that full hour with work (which is definitely my impulse), I took a much-needed break and watched a few Janet Jackson videos. Rest is a practice and self-care is productive. Photo description: screenshot of Janet Jackson, wearing a red hoodie and smiling in her “Doesn’t Really Matter” video

A few years ago, I heard one of the most inspiring talks ever. It was given by Diane Nash, who, as a student at Fisk, led efforts to desegregate lunch counters in Nashville, desegregate interstate travel through the Freedom Rides, and co-founded SNCC. She told us, a room full of college students, 20- and 30-somethings: “My contemporaries had you in mind when we acted. Even though we had not met you, we loved you.” What an affirmation and reminder. Who do you have in mind when you are working, planning, organizing, leading? Photo description: Katura is wearing a gray t-shirt with the following quote from organizer Diane Nash: “My contemporaries had you in mind when we acted. Even though we had not met you, we loved you.”

I don’t remember being told, “we’re going to start celebrating Kwanzaa.” We just did. I think I was 12.  Kinara in place. New terms trying to roll off the tongue.  “Habari Gani.” “Umoja.” “Kujichagulia.” That was my favorite one to practice. Karamu at the Wesleys’. Forming a big circle and calling out the names of our ancestors.  And a few years later, leading Kwanzaa celebrations at church because as I often had to explain, yes, you can be Christian and celebrate Kwanzaa too.  Whether you officially celebrate Kwanzaa or not, I hope we all take inspiration from the Nguzo Saba or seven principles that are its foundation. (Learn about them here) HARAMBEE!! (Let’s pull together) Photo description: Celebrating Ujamaa: me, my friend Maisha, her mom "Mama J," and my mom during one of our many mother-daughter get togethers. The four of us are standing behind a lit kinara.