Anti-Racism Statement
Picture Book Summit Anti-Racism Statement
We know as picture book creators that our books are often a place where young readers can meet their very first friends, see themselves and their families reflected, and experience a universe where they can work out all the tough things happening in the world. Right now, our young readers are being confronted with issues of social justice and systemic racism that they need help navigating.
Our goal at Picture Book Summit is to facilitate meaningful and lasting change in our organization and in our society by actively practicing and promoting anti-racism. Picture Book Summit stands with our Black colleagues, and we support Black Lives Matter. We also believe Black children and Black stories matter. We recognize that Picture Book Summit and the children’s publishing industry can and must do more to celebrate Black lives, amplify Black voices, and actively engage in anti-racism.
Anti-racism means “becoming actively conscious about race and racism and taking actions to end racial inequities in our daily lives.”[1] We have assembled a list of excellent books below to enhance your understanding of the issues, inform your writing, and provide opportunities for you to engage with the young people in your lives and discuss what it means to be anti-racist.
Since our inception, Picture Book Summit has been committed to providing diversity in our programs and presentations. In addition, we have donated more than $42,000 to causes such as We Need Diverse Books, The San Juan Community Library in Puerto Rico, and Project Night Night. We welcome writers of all backgrounds from across the globe to the Summit each year, all while providing a high-quality and affordable conference for picture book authors and illustrators. We reaffirm our commitment to ensure there is ample space for historically marginalized creators in our community.
We still have more to learn and more to contribute to the cause of promoting diversity in all levels of publishing. We pledge to keep doing the work, and hope you will join us. The links below are an excellent place to start.
Talking About Race. National Museum of African American History & Culture
Where is the Diversity in Publishing? Lee & Low 2019 Diversity Baseline Survey Results
Why We Need Diverse Books is No Longer Using the Term #OwnVoices
The Conscious Kid. Instagram
We suggest starting HERE when looking for diverse books.
[1] Talking About Race. National Museum of African American History & Culture
