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Councilmember Anita Bonds Chairman Phil Mendelson 2
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A CEREMONIAL RESOLUTION 6
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IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 10
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To recognize and celebrate the legacy and history of African American children’s literature in 14
the District of Columbia. 15
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WHEREAS, children’s literature written by African Americans, including authors like 17
Sterling Brown, May Miller Sullivan, Eloise Greenfield, Lucille Clifton, E. Ethelbert Miller, Jason 18
Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, Joy Jones, Tricia Walker, and others who have lived or worked in 19
Washington, DC, has been an essential vehicle for conveying Black history and culture since the 20
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century; 21
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WHEREAS, African American children’s literature is a necessary component of children 23
of the African diaspora seeing themselves and others with empathy, diversity, critical-thinking, 24
cultural awareness, inspiration, role-models, community-building, improved mental health, and 25
advanced academic performance; 26
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WHEREAS, Black authors have had to struggle against various mainstream forces in 28
America, including white supremacy, to ensure the authentic representation of African American 29
history and culture through their books -- including self-publishing and self-distribution by 30
African American bookstores like Pyramid Books, Drum & Spear Bookstore, Sanfoka, Busboys 31
and Poets, Social Justice Books, and Mahogany; 32
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WHEREAS, the success of African American authors of children’s literature, the artists 34
who illustrated their books, and the businesses and academic institutions that promoted their work, 35
such as Carter G. Woodson’s Associated Publishers, Howard University, the University of the 36
District of Columbia, and the D.C. Public Library among other supporters and patrons, has 37
contributed greatly to the socioeconomic advancement of generations of African Americans 38
throughout the world, in the United States, and especially in Washington, D.C. -- the nation’s 39
capital; 40
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WHEREAS, because of their creativity, advocacy, and sheer determination to ensure the 42
accurate and positive historical and cultural portrayal of Blacks in America and around the world, 43
African American authors of children’s literature who lived and worked in Washington, D.C. made 44
the District a vital contributor to the literary canon of this country through the New Negro 45
Movement, the Black Arts Movement, and into this 21st Century; and 46
WHEREAS, on March 2, 2024, the first African American Children’s Literature 47
Symposium and Exhibition supported by Humanities DC, being held on the campus of Trinity 48
Washington University, presented by Esther Productions Inc, the Black Student Fund, and curated 49
by Dr. Bernard Demczuk and others will demonstrate the longevity, essence and power of local 50
and national authors and illustrators of African American children’s literature. 51
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RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this 53
resolution may be cited as the “African Americans and Children’s Literature: A Symposium and 54
Exhibition Ceremonial Recognition Resolution of 2024”. 55
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Sec. 2. The Council recognizes and celebrates the rich history, legacy, and future of 57
Washington, D.C.’s African American children’s literary community, and declares March 2, 2024 58
as African American Children’s Literature Day in the District of Columbia. 59
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Sec. 3. This resolution shall take effect immediately. 61