Black author of banned book says work lets ‘kids see themselves’
Jerry Craft, the Newbery Medal-winning author whose book has sparked outrage this week in Katy Independent School District, said Wednesday he hopes his books help show “kids of color as just regular kids” and thanked teachers and librarians who championed his works.
Craft’s upcoming speaking event in Katy was canceled and his books pulled from the district’s school libraries after 400 parents signed a petition contending that his work promotes critical race theory. There are 88,000 students in the district.
Harlem-born Craft is a New York Times bestselling author and acclaimed graphic novelist. He is one of only five African American writers to win a Newbery Medal. His work centers on the life and experiences of Black preteens.
Craft posted his response on the Office of Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association’s site:
“Many aspects of my life have changed drastically since my book ‘New Kid’ became the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal. But through it all, what has not changed are my goals for my books: helping kids become the kind of readers that I never was; letting kids see themselves on my pages; and showing kids of color as just regular kids.
“As an African American boy who grew up in Washington Heights in New York City, I almost never saw kids like me in any of the books assigned to me in school. Books aimed at kids like me seemed to deal only with history or misery. That’s why it has always been important to me to show kids of color as just regular kids, and to create iconic African American characters like Jordan Banks from ‘New Kid.’ I hope that readers of all ages will see the kindness and understanding that my characters exhibit and emulate those feelings in their day-to-day lives.
“I would like to offer a special thank you to the many teachers, librarians, students, and parents who love and champion my books. You have changed my life, in the same way that I hope to have changed yours. And to my readers and fans around the world who tell me how much they relate to my characters, I can’t put into words how much your support means to me.”