Diversity in Children’s Literature 2021

New numbers are in, and the needle barely moved on the number of traditionally published books by Black authors from 2020 to 2021. According to the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) just 9% of children’s books published in 2021 were written by Black authors, up from 8% the year before. Traditionally published Asian creators increased from 12% to 15%, and traditionally published Latinx creators jumped from 7% to 10%. Indigenous, Arab and Pacific Islander authors also saw modest gains.

Why do these numbers matter?

REPRESENTATION
It’s important for children to see themselves portrayed authentically in stories and for kids of all races to gain an authentic view of other cultures. Own voices writers give true representation of their groups that benefit society.

DOLLARS AND CENTS
Many Black writers turn to self-publishing when they feel shunned by the publishing industry or don’t know how to get a seat at the table. This allows other groups to profit from telling Black stories. In 2020, less than half of traditionally published children’s books that featured Black characters were written by Black authors. Publishing book deals come with paid advances, book store and library distribution, zero start-up costs for authors, editorial and marketing support, and greater social acceptance and prestige.

MOVING THE NEEDLE
Education on the traditional publishing process is needed to increase the number of published Black authors. Last year I started this process by securing a literary agent, the first hurdle in getting a publishing deal. I’ll share the steps I took to do this in coming weeks and offer tips as I continue my journey. Self-publishing is a great option for authors looking to see their work in the world, but Black authors need to continue to knock on industry doors to ensure we are getting paid for telling our own stories.

Source: Cooperative Children’s Book Center https://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/literature-resources/ccbc-diversity-statistics/books-by-about-poc-fnn