In June, nonprofit children’s book organization We Need Diverse Books (WNDB) announced that it would stop using the term #OwnVoices, in favor of authors’ specific descriptions of themselves and their characters. WNDB said that use of the term has forced authors to self-identify in ways that are uncomfortable or dangerous; some diverse identities, such as disability or LGBTQ identities, aren’t self-evident. The hashtag has also become a way to police marginalized writers, “questioning authors who do have lived experience about whether they ‘count’ as ‘diverse enough’ to write about that specific community (for example, in making multiracial or bi+/pansexual authors […]
Diversity
Initiatives: B&T Adds Diversity Tool
Baker & Taylor will release a Diversity Analysis tool to help libraries “discover, manage, and report on diversity-related topics.” According to the release, the tool will allow libraries to analyze physical and digital collections and identify gaps. EVP and general manager of Baker & Taylor Amandeep Kochar said, “Creating and managing a collection that encompasses the wealth of human experiences can be complex and time consuming, which was our inspiration behind creating Diversity Analysis.” The service will be available this month for B&T customers. In May, Ingram Library Services launched a similar assessment service to help public libraries “diversify their […]
PRH DEI Director Discusses Initiatives, Avoiding Burnout
In a virtual event hosted by People of Color in Publishing, director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at Penguin Random House Annysa Polanco discussed her role and gave suggestions for companies to engage in DEI work. Polanco began by explaining that a DEI staffer looks at “the entire employee lifecycle” and how to infuse DEI into every part of the business, such as looking for diverse suppliers for shipping boxes. Overall, the goal of DEI is, “How do we make structural changes that are good for the business and good for its people.” Polanco spoke about the Inclusion Partner Program […]
Workplace Racism Survey Released
POC in Publishing and Latinx in Publishing released their Workplace Racism Survey, which was conducted in 2018 and asked current and former BIPOC publishing employees about their experiences with racism and microaggressions at work. The report includes action items and resources for further learning, and specifically suggests that white publishing professionals not reach out to their BIPOC colleagues to discuss it, creating more unpaid emotional labor for them. Of the 211 participants, 58% have worked in publishing for 0-5 years, 18% for 6-10 years, and 24% for 11 or more years. They work at Big 5 houses and independent presses, […]
In Bologna Panel, Publishers Discuss History, Future of Diverse Books
In a pre-recorded panel at the virtual Bologna Children’s Book Fair, A Decade of Diversity in Children’s Books, publishers and creators of children’s books from around the world discussed the history and future of diverse books. Featuring COO of We Need Diverse Books Dhonielle Clayton; publisher of Lee & Low Books Jason Low; author and founder of LovingKindness Boma publishing house, Cote d’Ivoire, Swaady Martin; Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Settenove edizioni, Italy, Monica Martinelli; American illustrator and wirter Chris Raschka; Founding director of Rue du monde publishing house, France, Alain Serres and moderated by bookselling and international editor of Publishers […]
Briefs
Diversity Penguin Random House published their 2020 Social Impact Report, evaluating their “social impact commitment areas” of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Environment & Sustainability; and Free Expression & Joy of Reading. CEO Markus Dohle acknowledges in the introduction, “In some areas, we have a long way to go. Change is overdue when it comes to building a publishing industry that’s truly diverse and equitable—from the authors we publish to the employees we hire. We cannot erase the past, but we can—and will—do everything within our power to help build a more equitable and just world through the power of books […]