I feel so truly humbled and honoured to be placed on this list and the only children's literature author at that. Often, I don't feel like literature for young people gets its due credit so I am glad that CBC Books made the effort.
I am also proud of the work that I have done to become a published author in Canada and since moving back to this country in July 2017 and I will continue to write, work, and promote diverse children's literature as much as I am able. I also wish to give credit to all of the Black Canadian writers for young people upon whose shoulders I stand-- Adwoa Badoe, Itah Sadu, Dirk McLean, Rosemary Sadlier, Shauntay Grant, Tololwa Mollel, Pamela Mordecai, Jodi Nyasha-Warner, Adrienne Shadd, Bonnie Farmer, my fellow diverse children's author artivists (arts activist) colleagues Natasha Henry, Jael Richardson, and Zetta Elliott who fight to ensure that our histories and words are represented in publishing for young people, and the many, many self-published African-Canadian children's book authors who do it all for themselves. This is for us. I hope that I can continue to further the much-needed work that we do for young people.
Does my name being on this list mean pressure? Yes. And, also motivation to finish and "activate" (my 2018 word) the stories that I started years ago. I would also love to meet the other names that appear on this list. Although we are all writers, our paths have not crossed as children's literature is "its own world" but I may have met Canisia Lubrin at some point.
Nevertheless, I am truly thrilled to be on this list. Did I tell you how pleased I am to be on this list?
For the complete article, visit http://www.cbc.ca/…/6-black-canadian-writers-to-watch-in-20…