30 classic books to inspire African-American kids
theGRIO SLIDESHOW - Over the years, there have been quite a few books featuring black characters which have helped to give children a sense of self...
A recent study found that less than three percent of children’s books last year featured black characters.
According to an analysis of the Cooperative Children’s Book Center at the University of Wisconsin, of 3,200 children’s books published in 2013, just 93 were about black people. Famed Young Adult author Walter Dean Myers tackled the issue in an editorial for The New York Times.
“Books transmit values. They explore our common humanity,” Myers writes. “What is the message when some children are not represented in those books? Where are the future white personnel managers going to get their ideas of people of color? Where are the future white loan officers and future white politicians going to get their knowledge of people of color? Where are black children going to get a sense of who they are and what they can be?”
Over the years, there have been quite a few books featuring black characters which have helped to give children a sense of self.
TheGrio has put together a list of just 30 of our favorites. Were they some of yours?
Follow Donovan X. Ramsey at @iDXR
