But this is 2020, a pandemic, work-from-home-plus-kids-and-virtual-school world.
This is also a world reeling from the deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and other Black people at the hands of police – a world exposing systemic racism and fighting for equality. And our kids are watching.
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What do we tell them? Should we tell them?
USA TODAY talked to media experts who say “yes” and are calling for a transformation in youth programming, in both representation of people of color and in anti-racism education.
“This is essential to the changes that we have to see in the country,” says Maria Alvarez, vice president of Common Sense Latino, part of Common Sense Media. She says children respond when they see kids like themselves portrayed “in positive ways, in ways that are inspiring, that they take leadership roles, that they are the heroes and not always the bad guys in the story.”
But while having TV shows with diverse characters is an improvement in children’s programming, it’s not enough.
Ramon Stephens, executive director of The Conscious Kid, says that in order to actually shift racial attitudes, we need to talk about race and racism, as well. Content should “unpack specific examples of what racism looks like” and how it affects people in real life, he says.
Some major networks are trying to answer the call. With help from Alvarez and Stephens, we’ve compiled a list of five current and upcoming TV specials or shows that help explain racism to kids and aim to spur conversations.
“If we speak at home with our little ones about different families in our community with respect, with empathy, with understanding and appreciation, that should go a long way,” Alvarez says. “Everything starts at home.”
‘Kids, Race and Unity: A Nick News Special’
What it’s about: The hour-long special with host Alicia Keys brings together “future leaders and activists” to amplify young Black voices and provide a “safe space” to discuss race. The Nickelodeon special focuses on the voices of youth and their experiences with racism, and several celebrities, including Olympic gymnast Simone Biles, musician Chance the Rapper, comedian Kevin Hart and supermodel Naomi Campbell, share messages and words of encouragement.
How to watch: Find it on YouTube.
‘Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism’
What it’s about: Elmo, Elmo’s dad Louie, Big Bird, Abby Cadabby and more of your favorite “Sesame Street” friends answer kids’ questions about racism, protests and the world around us. Joining them are Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, former Philadelphia Police Chief Charles Ramsey, and other experts. The 60-minute special is a team effort from “Sesame Street” and CNN and hosted by CNN commentator Van Jones and anchor and national correspondent Erica Hill.
How to watch: Find it on CNN.
Looking for books about racism?: Experts suggest these must-read titles for adults and kids
Keep reading: 100 Black novelists and fiction writers, from Abi Daré to Zora Neale Hurston
‘ARTHUR on Racism: Talk, Listen, and Act’
What it’s about: In this video short, Arthur and Buster saw a clip online of someone getting hurt “just because they were Black.” So they seek advice from their lunch lady, Mrs. MacGrady, on ways they can help fight racism. She tells them to talk about racism with their friends, parents and teachers, to listen to those who have experienced racism and speak up when someone is being treated unfairly.
How to watch: Find it on PBS.
‘Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices’
What it’s about: Netflix is launching a new series hosted by 15-year-old activist Marley Dias, founder of 1000 Black Girl Books. The episodes feature Black celebrities like Tiffany Haddish, Lupita Nyong’o, Marsai Martin, and Common reading children’s books from Black authors. As the celebrities read, they talk about the message of the book and share their connection with it.
How to watch: Find it on Netflix starting Sept. 1.
‘PBS KIDS Talk About: Race and Racism’
What it’s about: This half-hour TV special will feature PBS favorites like Daniel Tiger, Arthur and Xavier Riddle. According to a press release, the show will have “kids and their parents talking about race and racial justice-related topics in an age-appropriate way, such as noticing differences in race, understanding what racism can look like, and embracing the role we all have to play in standing up for ourselves and each other.”
How to watch: The special debuts Oct. 9 as part of PBS Kids Family Night on the PBS Kids 24/7 channel and will be available on all PBS Kids platforms.
Nonfiction books on race have resonated with readers across the country and on the USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list since the outcry spurred by George Floyd’s death in May and the killing of Breonna Taylor in March – both Black, both dead at the hands of police. Readers are educating themselves on systemic racism and challenging their preconceptions about race.
But an equally powerful way to become more educated and enlightened is through fiction. Black authors give readers more insight into the Black experience, often by viewing the world through the lens of Black characters.
Tola Rotimi Abraham: The debut author’s novel, February’s “Black Sunday,” was well-received by critics. The novel, which takes place over the course of two decades in Nigeria, follows twin sisters, Bibike and Ariyike whose lives in Lagos, Nigeria, take an unexpected turn, causing their paths to diverge.
Chinua Achebe: “Things Fall Apart,” by the late Nigerian-born novelist, poet and professor, is considered a masterpiece of African literature and earned global acclaim. The novel follows the life of Okonkwo, of the fictional clan Umuofia and the challenges of his community. Achebe followed the novel with “No Longer at Ease” and “Arrow of God.”
Ayộbámi Adebáyộ: The Nigerian author’s debut novel, “Stay With Me,” was considered one of the best of 2017. It follows a young Nigerian couple whose struggle with infertility creates tension between them as well as unexpected choices.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: The writer and MacArthur Genius Grant winner has written three award-winning novels, “Purple Hibiscus,” “Half of a Yellow Sun” and “Americanah,” as well as a book of short stories, “The Things Around Your Neck.” The Nigerian author is also a well-known lecturer whose TEDGlobal talk, “The Danger of a Single Story,” from 2009 has more than 22 million views.
Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah: A National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree, the author’s debut, “Friday Black,” a collection of satirical stories about what it’s like to be young and Black in America, was the winner of the 2019 PEN/Jean Stein Book Award.
Uwem Akpan: The Nigerian author’s debut collection of short stories, 2008’s “Say You’re One of Them” was an Oprah’s Book Club pick. A USA TODAY review said the book “proves that great fiction often can reveal more truth than a whole shelf of memories and histories.”
Afia Atakora: Born in the United Kingdom but raised in the U.S. Atakora’s debut, April’s “Conjure Women,” began as the author’s graduate thesis novel. It follows the lives of three women before and after the Civil War – a healing woman, her daughter and the daughter of their plantation master.
James Baldwin: The late writer, poet and activist’s novels and short stories reflect social issues and sexuality. His best-known include 1956’s “Giovanni’s Room,” about a young American man who has an affair with an Italian man named Giovanni, and 1974’s “If Beale Street Could Talk,” a love story set in Harlem during the 1970s, which was adapted into a feature film in 2018.
Natalie Baszile: “Queen Sugar,” Baszile’s 2014 novel, was adapted as a series by Ava DuVernay for OWN, Oprah Winfrey’s television network, in 2016. It also made the USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list. The novel tells the story of Charley Bordelon, a woman who moves to Louisiana when she unexpectedly inherits a sugarcane farm.
Brit Bennett: Her debut book, “The Mothers,” about how a young girl’s pregnancy as a teenager has lingering effects, was well-received in 2016. Her follow-up, June’s “The Vanishing Half,” surpassed it in both critical acclaim and commercial success. The book about twin sisters who become adults in two different worlds, one white, the other Black, will be adapted for a limited series from HBO.
Kalisha Buckhanon: When the author’s debut novel, “Upstate,” was published in 2004, she was named a writer to watch by Essence. Her most recent book, “Speaking of Summer” was named one of USA TODAY’s hottest new books of 2019. The novel follows Autumn as she searches for her missing sister, Summer.
Gabriel Bump: His debut book, “Everywhere You Don’t Belong,” a coming-of-age story about a young Black man trying to find his place in the world growing up in Chicago’s South Side, has been critically well-received. No release date has been set for his second novel, “The New Naturals.”
Maisy Card: Born in Jamaica, the writer and public librarian was raised in New York. In addition to short stories and essays, Card published her first novel in March, “These Ghosts Are Family.” The novel follows eight generations of one family over two centuries.
Candice Carty-Williams: The British novelist’s debut, 2019’s “Queenie,” won book of the year at the British Book Awards. Billed by the publisher as “Bridget Jones meets Americanah,” the novel follows the ups and downs of Queenie Jenkins, a 25-year-old Jamaican British woman living in London and juggling two cultures.
David Chariandy: The Canadian author’s first novel, “Soucouyant” was nominated and won myriad awards. His follow-up, 2017’s “Brother,” the story of two brothers raised by an immigrant mother, won the Toronto Book Award and the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize.
Charles W. Chesnutt: One of the first well-known modern Black novelists, Chesnutt published short stories, essays and novels that focused on issues of race and identity. His first published work is also his best known, 1899’s “The Conjure Woman,” a collection of short stories. Other works include “The Wife of His Youth and Other Stories of the Color Line” and “The Colonel’s Dream.”
Pearl Cleage: The writer has written several novels, including 1997’s “What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day,” the story of a Black woman with HIV. It became an Oprah’s Book Club selection in 1998 and was a bestseller on the USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list. Cleage is also well-known as a playwright.
Ta-Nehisi Coates: Best known for his works of nonfiction, the author published his first novel in 2019. “The Water Dancer” made a huge splash and was the first selection for Oprah Winfrey’s book club. Coates also authored graphic novels for Marvel comics, most notably “Black Panther.”
Alyssa Cole: Her works span from historical and science fiction to romance novels featuring LGBTQ relationships. Her latest work, September’s “When No One Is Watching,” is a thriller where a Brooklyn neighborhood’s revitalization turns out to be deadly.
J. California Cooper: The late author, who was also a well-known playwright, published several collections of short stories and novels. Her collection of short stories, 1986’s “Homemade Love,” won the American Book Award. Her novels include “Family,” “Some People, Some Other Place” and “In Search of Satisfaction.”
Edwidge Danticat: Her debut novel, 1994’s “Breath, Eyes, Memory,” was chosen as an Oprah’s Book Club selection in May of 1998. The Haitian-American writer’s most recent work of fiction, “Everything Inside: Stories,” a collection of eight short stories that feature love and humanity is the August 2020 pick for Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine book club. Danticat has also produced critically hailed works, including “Krik? Krak!” and “The Farming of Bones.”
Abi Daré: The Nigerian author’s debut novel, February’s “The Girl With the Louding Voice,” about a teenager trapped in a life of servitude, has made an impression with critics and readers. The novel was chosen as a February pick for Jenna Bush Hager’s Read With Jenna club and was chosen by Amazon Editors as one of the best books of the year so far.
Nicole Dennis-Benn: The Jamaican author explores race, class and sexuality in her work. Her debut novel, 2016’s “Here Comes the Sun” and her follow-up, “Patsy,” were critically well-received, with the latter becoming a Read With Jenna pick. Both novels have won Lambda Literary Awards, which honor the best LGBTQ books.
Nicky Drayden: Her first novel, 2017’s science fiction and fantasy title “The Prey of Gods,” garnered good reviews, and she has subsequently published 2018’s “Temper” and 2019’s “Escaping Exodus.” In addition to novels, Draydin has written myriad short stories.
Ralph Ellison: The late writer’s best-known work, “Invisible Man,” won the National Book Award in 1953. The novel, featuring a nameless protagonist who chronicles his experiences with racism and bigotry was immediately called a masterpiece upon its publication in 1952. The author’s last novel, “Juneteenth,” was published several years after his death and became a USA TODAY bestseller in 1999 when it was released.
Akwaeke Emezi: The author’s debut novel, 2018’s “Freshwater,” tells the story of Ada, a complicated child from Nigeria, and follows her to America for college and into adulthood. Emezi was a National Book Foundation 5 Under 35 honoree, and their novel was a finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Author. USA TODAY called their latest novel, “The Death of Vivek Oji,” a “wrenching tale of grief and identity.”
Percival Everett: Everett is a prolific novelist and University of Southern California English professor whose work spans almost four decades. The author, who is also a poet, published his first novel, “Suder,” in 1983 and his most recent, “Telephone,” in May. Novels in between include “Erasure” and “I Am Not Sidney Poitier.”
Ernest J. Gaines: The late author’s works spanned decades, from the publication of his first short story, “The Turtles,” in 1956 to his final book, “The Tragedy of Brady Sims,” in 2017. Along the way, he produced such classics as “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman,” “A Gathering of Old Men” and “A Lesson Before Dying.” The author has a literary award named for him, the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence.
Anissa Gray: A journalist of more than 20 years, most recently at CNN, Gray’s novel, “The Care and Feeding of Ravenously Hungry Girls,” was published in 2019. A USA TODAY review called the book “a gripping and sharp story” with “timeless and universal qualities.”
Kaitlyn Greenidge: Her debut novel, “We Love You Charlie Freeman,” was lauded as one of the top books of 2016. According to a USA TODAY review, “Greenidge deftly handles a host of complex themes and characters, exploring not just how (literally) institutionalized racism is, but the difficulty of an effective response to it. … witty and provocative.”
Jasmine Guillory: Guillory’s romances have been popping up on bestseller lists for the past few years. Witherspoon selected her novel, “The Proposal,” last year as Hello Sunshine’s February pick. Guillory’s other books include “The Wedding Date,” “Royal Holiday,” “The Wedding Party” and “Party of Two.”
Yaa Gyasi: Born in Ghana but raised in the U.S., Gyasi’s first book, “Homegoing,” about two half-sisters born into different lives, one raised in comfort and the other sold into slavery, won the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Award for best first book and the PEN/Hemingway Award for an author’s first book of fiction. Her latest novel, “Transcendent Kingdom,” is set to publish in September.
Alex Haley: One of the author’s best-known works was his nonfiction, “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” Another, “Roots,” which Haley referred to as a fictional account based on his own family history, was adapted as a successful TV miniseries in 1977. “Alex Haley’s Queen,” based on the author’s grandmother was later adapted as a miniseries starring Halle Berry.
James Hannaham: In addition to short stories, the author has published two novels. The first, “God Says No,” a book about a gay Black man who marries his girlfriend, was a Stonewall Honor Book and a finalist Lambda Book Award. His most recent, 2015’s “Delicious Foods,” won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and tells the story of a widowed mother and her son’s fight to be reunited.
E. Lynn Harris: Starting with “Invisible Life,” the late author’s work featured African American characters who were gay and, at times, closeted. Several of his novels, including “Just As I Am” and “Abide With Me,” both sequels to “Invisible Life,” made the USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Books list through the 1990s and 2000s.
Talia Hibbert: The contemporary romance writer specializes in steamy stories with four separate series and three stand-alone novels to her name. She also has a few bestsellers, including her most recent entry on USA TODAY’s list, “Get a Life, Chloe Brown.”
Uzodinma Iweala: The writer and doctor’s debut novel, 2005’s “Beasts of No Nation,” tells the story of a child soldier in West Africa. The award-winning novel was adapted into a 2015 film starring Idris Elba. Iweala’s recent novel, Lambda Literary Award Finalist “Speak No Evil,” follows college-bound Niru and friend Meredith, whose relationship struggles after Niru’s strict Nigerian father discovers he’s gay.
Brenda Jackson: The bestselling author has more than 100 romance novels and novellas to her name, starting with her debut, “Tonight and Forever,” in 1995. Jackson was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for her 2011 novel “A Silken Thread” and in 2012 received the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
N.K. Jemisin: A popular science fiction writer of novels and stories, Jemisin became the first author to win consecutive Best Novel Hugos, an annual literary award for best science fiction and fantasy works, for her “Broken Earth” trilogy. Her most recent work, March’s “The City We Became,” where various residents of New York City suddenly take on aspects of the city itself, was a USA TODAY bestseller.
Beverly Jenkins: A popular romance writer, Jenkins is best known for historical romance. She is a USA TODAY bestselling author with more than 40 books and anthologies to her name, most notably “Indigo,” “Something Old, Something New,” “Destiny’s Embrace” and “Forbidden.” In 2017, Jenkins received the Romance Writers of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mat Johnson: A professor at the University of Oregon, Johnson is a recipient of the James Baldwin Fellowship and the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award. ”Loving Day,” out in 2015, made multiple best-of lists. Other novels include “Pym,” “Drop” and “Hunting in Harlem,” and Johnson is also the author of the comic books “Incognegro” and “Dark Rain.”
Jamaica Kincaid: A notable contributor to The New Yorker, the writer’s best-known novel is “Lucy,” which chronicles the experiences of a young woman who arrives in the United States from the West Indies to work as an au pair – a story that is similar to Kinkaid’s own life.
Tracey Livesay: A former criminal defense attorney, Livesay traded it in to write six romance novels and a novella. Her most recent, “Like Lovers Do,” is set to be released in August. Livesay recently won the 2020 Emma Award for best interracial romance for her book “Sweet Talkin’ Lover” at this year’s Romance Slam Jam.
Attica Locke: The author is known for her award-winning crime fiction, which includes her debut novel, “Black Water Rising,” and its follow-up “The Cutting Season,” winner of the Ernest Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. Her most recent novel is 2019’s “Heaven, My Home.” In addition to novels, Locke’s work can be found on the small screen as a writer and producer for Netflix’s “When They See Us” and Hulu’s “Little Fires Everywhere.”
Imbolo Mbue: “Behold the Dreamers,” Mbue’s debut novel about immigrants Jende Jonga and his wife Neni, who get jobs working for a financier and his wife, was an Oprah Winfrey book club pick and a USA TODAY bestseller. Her second novel, “How Beautiful We Were,” is scheduled to be released in 2021.
James McBride: The author’s most recent novel, March’s “Deacon King Kong,” about a church deacon shooting a drug dealer, has garnered strong reviews, is an Oprah Winfrey book club pick and is a USA TODAY bestseller. “The Good Lord Bird” won the 2013 National Book Award for Fiction, and director Spike Lee brought McBride’s novel “Miracle at St. Anna” to the big screen in 2008.
Bernice L. McFadden: Three of the author’s best-known works are “Sugar,” “Glorious” and “The Book of Harlan,” which won the 2017 American Book Award and an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work. McFadden also wrote erotic fiction under the pen name Geneva Holliday, whose titles include “Seduction,” “Fever,” “Heat” and “Groove.”
Jeni McFarland: The writer has published short fiction in Crack the Spine, Forge and Spry. Her debut novel, April’s “The House of Deep Water,” delves into the lives of three women who return to the hometown they all wanted to escape.
Terry McMillan: The bestselling author’s first book, “Mama,” was published in the 1980s. But two of her works have become part of the ’90s pop culture lexicon: “Waiting to Exhale” and “How Stella Got Her Groove Back,” both also immortalized in successful feature films. Her most recent work, “It’s Not All Downhill From Here,” was published in March.
Francesca Momplaisir: The author’s debut novel, “My Mother’s House,” looks at the immigrant experience through the eyes of Lucien; his wife, Marie-Ange; and their children, who flee Haiti for the promise of a new life in New York City. The Haitian-born author said on her website she is most influenced by author Toni Morrison.
Toni Morrison: The first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, Morrison saw great critical and commercial success in her career before she died at the age of 88 in 2019. Much of that commercial success can be attributed to having Oprah Winfrey as one of her biggest fans. Four of the author’s novels were picked for her original book club: “Song of Solomon,” “Paradise,” “The Bluest Eye” and “Sula.” Ten of her books have made the USA TODAY Best-Selling Books list.
Bethany C. Morrow: Morrow, who specializes in speculative fiction, writes both adult and young adult fiction. Her debut novel, “MEM,” is an adult science fiction novel set in an alternate 1920s Montreal, where clones are subjected to living one memory over and over until one develops memories of her own.
Gloria Naylor: The late author’s best-known novel was also her first: 1982’s “The Women of Brewster Place.” She won a National Book Award for First Work of Fiction, and the novel was later adapted for the small screen by Oprah Winfrey. The late author’s other novels include “Linden Hills,” “Mama Day” and “The Men of Brewster Place.”
Chigozie Obioma: Both of the Nigerian-born writer’s books were finalists for the Booker Prize – his 2015 novel, “The Fisherman,” and his 2019 novel, “An Orchestra of Minorities.” Obioma is a professor of English and creative writing at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Tochi Onyebuchi: The author’s first adult novel (he has three for young adults) is January’s “Riot Baby.” The dystopian novel follows the story of Kev, who was born during the L.A. riots, and sister Ella, who has the power to see into the future.
Ann Petry: Originally trained as a pharmacist, Petry later became a journalist and then a novelist. Her first book, “The Street,” published in 1946, was a critical and commercial success. She went on to write several more, including “Country Place” and “The Narrows.” In addition to novels, Petry also penned short stories and biographies for children.
Regina Porter: With an extensive background as a playwright, Porter’s first novel, “The Travelers,” debuts in September and tells the story of two families spanning from the 1950s through to Obama’s first year in office. The novel was a finalist for 2020’s PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel.
Kiley Reid: Reid’s debut novel, “Such a Fun Age,” has received great reviews and is on the longlist for the 2020 Booker Prize. Witherspoon chose the book for her Hello Sunshine book group in January, noting: “This story is a beautiful conversation starter about race, privilege, work dynamics.”
Kimberla Lawson Roby: The USA TODAY bestselling author is best known for her “Reverend Curtis Black” series, which includes “Love and Lies,” “Be Careful What You Pray For” and “The Reverend’s Wife.” Roby is also known for “One in a Million,” “The Perfect Marriage” and “Behind Closed Doors.”
Maurice Carlos Ruffin: The author’s 2019 book, “We Cast a Shadow,” was a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. The speculative and satirical novel follows the story of Nigel, a biracial boy, in a near-future Southern city where there’s a clinic that can “liberate you from the confines of being born in a Black body.”
Sapphire: Sapphire is the pen name of Ramona Lofton. The author’s best-known novel is also her debut, 1996’s “Push,” told in the voice of a damaged young teenager named Precious who is pregnant with her second child. The novel was the basis for the Oscar-winning film “Precious” and a new edition was released under the film’s name. In 2011, Sapphire published the sequel, “The Kid.”
Rion Amilcar Scott: The writer has two books of short stories: 2016’s “Insurrections,” for which he won the PEN/Robert W. Bingham Prize, and 2019’s “The World Does Not Require You.” A USA TODAY review of “The World Does Not Require You” called the collection both “bleak and beautiful” and said that its author “demonstrates the skill and long-range vision of a writer we need right now.”
Iceberg Slim: Also known as Robert Beck, the author’s memoir, “Pimp,” published in 1967, brought him notoriety. But it was the novels that followed, including “Trick Baby,” “Mama Black Widow” and “Long White Con,” that gave him prominence as an author and put him at the forefront of the urban fiction genre.
Zadie Smith: The British-born novelist, currently a tenured professor at New York University, first made it big with “White Teeth,” the story of two soldiers in WWII, the very English Archie Jones and the very Bengali Samad Iqbal, who become unlikely friends. She has written four more novels, including “On Beauty,” “NW” and “Swingtime.”
Rivers Solomon: The author’s first book, the science fiction novel “An Unkindness of Ghosts,” won the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for best Black literature in the United States. The book follows the journey of Aster, who lives in the “lowdeck” slums of the space vessel HSS Matilda. Solomon followed it up with the novella “The Deep.” Their next novel, “Sorrowland,” billed as a “genre-bending work of Gothic fiction” is scheduled for release in 2021.
Sister Souljah: After publishing her memoir in 1995, the recording artist and activist made her novelist debut in 1999 with “The Coldest Winter Ever” and was at the forefront of a new wave of urban literature known as street literature – all while becoming a bestseller. Souljah’s novels “Midnight: A Gangster Love Story,” “Midnight and the Meaning of Love,” “A Deeper Love Inside” and “A Moment of Silence” made USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Books list.
Mia Sosa: The romance writer practiced law for 10 years in Washington, D.C., before becoming a full-time author. She has written seven novels, her most recent, “The Worst Best Man,” is about a wedding planner and made the USA TODAY Best-Selling Books List.
Jean Toomer: The Harlem Renaissance writer’s novel 1923’s “Cane” is his most well-known work. Considered by many to be a masterpiece in American modernist literature, the novel, through a series of vignettes, tells the stories of African Americans living in the south and urban north during the Jim Crow era.
A.J. Verdelle: Verdelle’s 1995 “The Good Negress” was a finalist for a PEN/Faulkner award for fiction, and the author won the Whiting Award for emerging writers. The acclaimed novel, set in 1960s Detroit, centers around Denise Palms, who leaves her grandmother’s home in rural Virginia and reunites with her family up north.
Alice Walker: Her best-known novel, 1982’s “The Color Purple,” tells the story of Celie, an uneducated Black woman living in the South in the early 1900s. It won both the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was later adapted into an Academy Award-nominated film and stage musical. “Possessing the Secret of Joy” and “The Temple of My Familiar” are other well-known novels among her more than 30 works of fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
Kawai Strong Washburn: The author’s debut novel came out in March to rave reviews. “Sharks in the Time of Saviors” tells the story of Nainoa Flores, who is rescued by sharks after falling off a boat in Hawaii and develops new abilities.
Bryan Washington: The writer’s first book, “Lot,” a collection of short stories, was one of Obama’s favorite books of 2019. Washington has been named a National Book Award 5 Under 35 honoree and winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize and the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence. His first novel, “Memorial,” is due in October.
Jesmyn Ward: Twice the author has won the National Book Award, first in 2011 for “Salvage the Bones,” about Esch, 14, who is pregnant and preparing her fractured family for Hurricane Katrina, and again in 2017 for “Sing, Unburied Sing,” about the life and struggles of 13-year-old Jojo and his family in Mississippi. Her other novel is “Where the Line Bleeds.”
Catherine Adel West: The debut author’s “Saving Ruby King” follows a woman whose mother is murdered in their South Side Chicago home, and she is left alone with her violent father.
Colson Whitehead: The author has twice won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction – in 2017 for “The Underground Railroad” and in 2020 for “The Nickel Boys.” The novels both became fixtures on USA TODAY’s bestsellers list. Whitehead was also awarded the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction. The author has racked up awards and devoted readers since his debut novel, “The Intuitionist” in 1999.
Rita Woods: Her debut novel, January’s “Remembrance” is historical fiction that centers on the story of four women from different times whose lives intertwine. According to Publishers Weekly, “Fine attention to sensory details and brutal honesty concerning the horrors of slavery and racial relations over more than two centuries of American history make this a standout.”
Jacqueline Woodson: Though primarily known for her young adult fiction, Woodson also has adult titles. Her 2019 book, “Red at the Bone,” the story of a teen’s unexpected pregnancy, was a hit with celebrity book clubs and made myriad best-of-the-year lists.
Richard Wright: Wright published fiction, nonfiction, essays and poetry. But his first, and arguably most-famous novel, is the 1940 “Native Son,” the story of a young man, Bigger Thomas, and his life in a poor area of Chicago’s South Side during the 1930s. It has been adapted for both film and stage. Other novels include “The Outsider” and “The Long Dream.”
Steven Wright: Wright’s first novel, April’s “The Coyotes of Carthage,” benefits from his experience as a trial attorney and law professor. A USA TODAY review calls the book a “political novel in all the best ways” and the Wisconsin Innocence Project co-director “an exceedingly adept satirist.”
Zane: Zane is the pen name for Kristina Laferne Roberts. The USA TODAY bestselling author is well-known for her erotica, and her novel “Addicted” was made into a 2014 film of the same name. The author’s other books include “The Heat Seekers,” “Vengeance” and “The Other Side of the Pillow.”
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: ‘Everything starts at home’: Kids’ TV shows that teach anti-racism, celebrate diversity
