A group of children’s book authors and artists are banding together to speak up for black lives.
Writers Kwame Alexander, Jacqueline Woodson, and Jason Reynolds have organized the #Kidlit Rally for Black Lives, a virtual event scheduled to take place Thursday.
The rally, hosted by the advocacy group The Brown Bookshelf, “is a way for families, educators, librarians, and members of the children’s book community to come together in support of Black lives, speak to children about this moment, answer their questions, and offer ideas about steps we can all take going forward,” the organizers said in a news release.
“We show our children that they have a voice and that it matters, by using ours,” Alexander said. “This is not a time for silence. Our words have never mattered more.”
Authors and artists participating in the rally include Elizabeth Acevedo, Linda Sue Park, Gene Luen Yang, K.A. Holt, Raúl the Third, Sara Ahmed, and Samantha Berger.
The rally is scheduled to address young people from 7 to 7:45 p.m. EDT, and address parents, librarians and teachers from 7:45 to 8:30. It will be broadcast live on The Brown Bookshelf’s Facebook page.
“The young people—as always—want answers and clarity,” Woodson said. “As writers of literature FOR and about young people, we’ve always spoken a language they understand.”
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
