Katura J. Hudson

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 ...

‪I spent the past two weekends with culture carriers, truth tellers, game changers, and history makers.‬⁣ Last week was the Highlights Foundation Cultural Competency workshop. This weekend it was the 50th anniversary of the Coretta Scott King Awards. The Coretta Scott King Awards recognize outstanding books for children and young adults created by Black authors and illustrators. The first CSK Award was presented in 1970, just two years after Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, to honor Mrs. Coretta Scott King and her work for peace. The Awards are presented annually at the American Library Association (ALA) Conference. It had been years since I attended ALA. #CSK50 was such a great occasion to return. I missed the big 50th anniversary gala on Friday, but made it to DC on Saturday in time for an intimate celebration with fellow Black book creators and Black librarians. I also had a little time to visit the ALA exhibits and got to meet Terry Nathan, COO of the Independent Bo...

The perfect end to Black History Month 2018 - in Harlem at the I, Too Arts Collective gala to raise funds to help continue Langston Hughes' legacy and preserve his Harlem home. The gala was held in the home Langston Hughes owned, wrote in, lived in for more than 20 years. Yes, I took a bathroom selfie. (It was Langston's bathroom!!) My mom and I visited the upstairs library and took another selfie, this time holding the tribute we did to the legendary poet/activist - a book also named Langston's Legacy.  That typewriter on the mantle piece - it's one that Langston Hughes actually used! There's so much important history here and it was an honor to be in that space.  Learn more about I, Too Arts Collective’s work and how you can support at - itooarts.com

I’ve been going for years but February 3, 2018 was my first time attending the African American Children’s Bookfair in Philadelphia as a featured author.  I had a great time signing books, talking to kids and connecting with fellow Black kidlit creators. This bookfair is in its 26th year and it’s so important that we have this event and support it. Thank you and congrats Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati on another great event.

Back in October, I received an invitation to a holiday pop-up coordinated by the Young Brown Collective. The location was the Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn. What's "Weeksville"? That was my question, too.  I didn't find out until I pulled up at 158 Buffalo Ave. on the first snow day of the season. Weeksville is a historic Black settlement - one of the first free Black communities in the U.S. Free Black people came together to buy land in the area (which is now Bed Stuy) in 1838. In addition to homes, Weeksville had its own school, two churches, a newspaper, and other businesses. But by the late 1960s, all but four house in this community were gone. The Weeksville Heritage Center works to preserve and share this important history. The Center was the perfect host location for an event dedicated to supporting small, Black-owned businesses. My mom came with me and we sold some books, bought some gifts, met fellow entrepreneurs, and toured two of the beautifully r...