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>>> IT CAN BE TOUGH TO FIND BOOKS THAT REFLECT BLACK USE.

THIS ORGANIZATION TOOK UPON THEMSELVES TO MAKE SURE THAT CHILDREN HAVE PLENTY OF OPTIONS ON THE SHELVES.

THEY FOCUSED ON BOOKS CENTERING BLACK CHARACTERS AND LAUNCHED THIS ORGANIZATION TO PUBLISH THE WORK OF 10 YOUTH WRITERS IN SHORT STORIES.

>> THEY CAN GATHER AROUND THE TABLES, THEY CAN LOOK AT THE BOOKS.

>> WE ARE A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT DONATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

WE ARE CELEBRATING OUR FIVE YEAR ANNIVERSARY , ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND ARE LAUNCHING A USE AUTHOR CONTEST.

>> BLACK STORYTELLING IS A HUGE PART OF OUR CULTURE, SO WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE WE GAVE YOUNG WRITERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE, TO BE SELECTED, TO BE PUBLISHED , IN CELEBRATION .

>> WE ARE GIVING CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THAT THEY CAN BE PUBLISHED AUTHORS AND BESIDES THAT, GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR CHILDREN TO READ THESE STORIES AND SEE THERE IS ACTUALLY LITERATURE THAT REPRESENTS THEM.

>> WE WANT TO ENSURE THAT CHILDREN ARE ABLE TO SEE THEMSELVES .

I FELT LIKE MY NIECE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH BOOKS THAT FEATURED LITTLE BLACK GIRLS .

WE ARE EXCITED TO SEE THE KIDS COME TO OUR TABLE AND THINKING OH, THAT GIRL LOOKS LIKE ME, SHE MIGHT HAVE THAT HAIRSTYLE AND IT ENCOURAGES YOU TO PICK IT UP, RIGHT?

WE REALLY EMPHASIZE THAT INTERACTION WITH THE CHILDREN