Katura J. Hudson

‪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...

 I usually live tweet diversity workshops/events I attend. I didn’t for the Building Cultural Competency in Children’s Publishing Symposium at @Highlights Foundation.  I wanted to be fully present. Even handwriting notes seemed a bit intrusive. Yes, it was that deep. My biggest takeaway was that we all need to come to the page with questions - whether you’re a writer, reader, illustrator, editor, librarian or teacher.  -Who’s centered in the story? -Who’s silenced or misrepresented?  -Is the story upholding stereotypes?  -What are YOUR identities and how do they shape what you’re writing, reading or suggesting that others read? Then, take action.  That might mean #booktoss for biased books or deciding you are not the best author to write a particular story.  And it should always mean supporting more #ownvoices books and getting more of them onto shelves & into kids’ hands, Examining our books & ourselves is hard & necessary ONGOING work. Th...

My parents love to put us on the spot in interviews and ask me and my brother what it’s like working with them and for Just Us Books, the publishing company they founded. Now we’re flipping the script. To help celebrate Just Us Books’ 30th anniversary, my brother Stephan and I have some questions for them. Thanks to The Brown Bookshelf for this special interview opportunity. Read the interview .