Tuesday, April 23, 2019

An Open Letter to the Children's Book Guild

Today, Martha Brockenbrough, Julie Foster Hedlund, and Ishta Mercurio ask for action and change from the Children's Book Guild in response to an incident that occurred at a recent event.

Please read the letter below and leave a comment that includes your name if you'd like to lend your support.


[Ed. 9am 4/25/19: Please note that we will wrap up signature gathering at 8pm EST tonight (Thursday, April 25th), and will also close comments at that time. We will send this letter with signatures to the CBG the following morning.
Update 8:15pm 4/25/19: Comments are now closed.]


April 23, 2019
Rhoda Trooboff
Children’s Book Guild
Childrensbookguild@yahoo.com

Dear Ms. Trooboff:

We are members of the children’s book community writing in support of Carole Lindstrom, who was treated in an unacceptable manner at a recent luncheon. We are also writing in support of Dr. Debbie Reese, a respected authority in children’s literature and the representation of American Indians. And we are writing to suggest some changes to your protocol for handling these incidents when they occur.

To summarize what happened: Your membership chair, Jacqueline Jules, initiated a conversation with Ms. Lindstrom during the lunch. Ms. Jules wanted to know what Ms. Lindstrom thought of Dr. Reese, and the intentions behind Ms. Jules’s questioning do not appear to be benign.

Dr. Reese, who is so respected in the field as to be selected to give the prestigious May Hill Arbuthnot lecture, is frequently criticized by people who do not wish to understand her work, and who do not wish to understand the nuances of cultural representation. She is beloved by people who are committed to writing better books for the children we serve. She is patient, generous with her time, straightforward with her comments, and has made a groundbreaking difference in understanding racism directed at Indigenous people.

Ms. Jules’ question itself was inappropriate. Dr. Reese is an industry professional, and it is in bad form to disparage an industry professional at an industry function. Furthermore, when Ms. Lindstrom explained that Dr. Reese is a friend, Ms. Jules should have dropped the subject to respect that statement and the boundary it implied. Ms. Jules did not. Instead, she continued, prompting Ms. Lindstrom to leave the luncheon. Then she initiated unwanted physical contact with Ms. Lindstrom, and then she followed her outside after Ms. Lindstrom had made it clear she wanted no part of the discussion.

No one inside the room did anything to end this disturbing treatment or to intervene on behalf of a guest. What’s more, when your organization heard Ms. Lindstrom’s complaint, you shared it with Ms. Jules without first getting Ms. Lindstrom’s consent. And you do not seem to have any sort of policy for your organization on harassment, or any protocol in place for bystanders to intervene and end the harassment. It also confused many people aware of what had transpired that your organization would choose this week to single out Ms. Jules as “Author of the Day,” a choice that seems the opposite of apologetic. [Clarification: The “Author of the Day” designation was created by the Chesapeake Children’s Festival, not by the Children’ Book Guild. The CBG was boosting the promotion.]

We, the undersigned, believe the Children’s Book Guild owes Ms. Lindstrom and Dr. Reese apologies, and we believe you would be well-served by creating policies that protect people from harassment of all sorts when they attend your meetings.

Sincerely yours,

Martha Brockenbrough
Julie Foster Hedlund
Ishta Mercurio

Martha Brockenbrough is the author of many works of fiction and nonfiction for young readers. She teaches at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Julie Foster Hedlund is an author, freelance writer, and founder of 12x12, program to support motivation and accountability for picture book writers.
Ishta Mercurio is the author of the forthcoming picture book SMALL WORLD, illustrated by Jen Corace and published by Abrams.


[Ed. 6:45pm 4/23/19: We hear some people are having trouble commenting. If this is you, please feel free to email us, readingwhilewhite@gmail.com, with the text of your comment. We'll be glad to post it on your behalf.]

398 comments:

  1. Cosigned, and thank you.
    - Mike Jung

    ReplyDelete
  2. Please take this opportunity for improvement.
    Co-signed,
    Melanie Conklin

    ReplyDelete
  3. You can do better than this!
    Co-signed
    --Dr. Genevieve Ford

    ReplyDelete
  4. Such a pivotal moment for reflection & redirection & coming together.
    Cosigned
    -JanGodownAnnino

    ReplyDelete
  5. Co-signed

    -- Randell Baze, Librarian

    ReplyDelete
  6. Co-signed

    Tricia Lawrence, Agent, Erin Murphy Literary

    ReplyDelete
  7. Co-signed,
    -Tony Perry, Native American (Chickasaw) author

    ReplyDelete
  8. Co-signed. Please listen to this respectful attempt to help the organization grow in a safer and more inclusive direction. - Kalah McCaffrey

    ReplyDelete
  9. Cosigned,

    Christina Hoover Moorehead

    ReplyDelete
  10. Obviously I co-sign (again). I also want to include links to a few Twitter threads that include helpful information, especially for those of us White people who might otherwise be bystanders:
    Dr. Debbie Reese: https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1120346865776513024 and https://twitter.com/debreese/status/1120689298259480581
    Heidi Heilig: https://twitter.com/heidiheilig/status/1120325981724712963
    Angie Manfredi: https://twitter.com/misskubelik/status/1120517210848595970

    -Allie Jane Bruce

    ReplyDelete
  11. Co-signed,
    -- Kathleen Rushall

    ReplyDelete
  12. co-signed.
    -- Ruth McNally Barshaw
    (author and illustrator)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Cosigned,
    Jean Darnell

    *Develop a policy, after you've ensured that your governing board goes through either a racial sensitivity training or effective ways to handle harassment. How will you atone for this grave misrepresentation of everything CBG has worked towards? Furthermore, how can your organization never be in this situation again? Don't let your silence make you implicit in condoning this behavior.

    ReplyDelete
  14. In support of Carole Lindstrom

    Jackie Kruzie - author and librarian

    ReplyDelete
  15. I would be happy to co-sign. We can do better -- we must.

    all best,
    Melinda R. Cordell.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Cosigned,
    Dr. Laura M. Jiménez
    AKA @booktoss

    ReplyDelete
  17. Co-signed,
    Sara Ralph,
    School Librarian

    ReplyDelete
  18. Co-signed,
    Julie Herman
    SCBWI member

    ReplyDelete
  19. Co-signed. Please take this opportunity to reflect and improve as an organization.

    -- Gabrielle Atwood Halko

    ReplyDelete
  20. Co-signed,
    Monica Clark-Robinson
    Author and children's librarian

    ReplyDelete
  21. Co-signed,
    Luana Ross
    Co-Director of Native Voices Film at the University of Washington

    ReplyDelete
  22. Co-signed,
    Darshana Khiani (author)

    ReplyDelete
  23. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  24. co-signed - and thank you for this action. Tina Hoggatt

    ReplyDelete
  25. Co Signed. Dr. Tasslyn Magnusson. Grateful for the work of Dr. Reese and Carole Lindstrom.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Co-signed, Laura Atkins (author and editor)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Co-signed, Laura Atkins (author and editor)

    ReplyDelete
  28. Co-signed,
    Anastasia (Annie) Carl
    The Neverending Bookshop, Owner

    ReplyDelete
  29. Not only am I co-signing, but I would like to thank Ms. Lindstrom for having the courage to talk about this and call it out. Too often, the people who are treated with such lack of regard and disrespect don't feel they have a recourse.

    Co-signing. Thank you.

    Lori Snyder

    ReplyDelete
  30. I heartily co-sign and thank you for your work., Tracy Clark

    ReplyDelete
  31. Co-signed with my support.
    Weshoyot Alvitre
    Tongva Nation

    ReplyDelete
  32. Co-signed. Unacceptable treatment.
    Susan Adrian

    ReplyDelete
  33. Co-signed in support of Carole Lindstrom and Dr. Debbie Reese,
    Linda Rodriguez (author)

    ReplyDelete
  34. Enthusiastically co-signed.

    --
    Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, Ph.D.
    Associate Professor and Co-Editor, Research in the Teaching of English (NCTE)
    Reading/Writing/Literacy Program
    Literacy, Culture, and International Education Division
    Graduate School of Education
    University of Pennsylvania

    ReplyDelete
  35. Co-signed. Please learn and do better.
    Maya Sofia Gittelman.

    ReplyDelete
  36. Co-signed.
    —Amy Bennett-Zendzian, Boston University

    ReplyDelete
  37. Co-signed,
    Justine Larbalestier

    (Blogger is not cooperating for Justine, we are posting this on her behalf at her request.)

    ReplyDelete
  38. This is an opportunity to mend, heal and correct. Co-signed. -Nicole Valentine

    ReplyDelete
  39. Co-signed,
    Alyssa Jennette, Stonesong Agency

    ReplyDelete
  40. Co-signed,

    Tonya Martin
    Publisher

    ReplyDelete
  41. Co-signed,

    Rachel McCauley
    Educator and (almost) Librarian

    ReplyDelete
  42. Behind these words 100%,
    Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic
    Children's Lit Author

    ReplyDelete
  43. Co-signed. Please take this as a learning opportunity.
    Lisa Krok, MLIS, M.Ed

    ReplyDelete
  44. co-signed
    Janet Nasir
    elementary teacher

    I will not support/use Ms. Jules' works in my classroom. The Guild has chosen to support racism and harassment with their actions, as well as their non-actions.

    ReplyDelete
  45. Co-signed, with thanks.

    Elana K. Arnold

    ReplyDelete
  46. Please carefully read and thoughtfully respond to the above letter.

    Bernadette Pasek, Middle School Librarian

    ReplyDelete
  47. Co-signed, Gwen Tarbox, with the suggestion that if anyone wishes to comment on a scholar's work, look that scholar up, and write a polite query. Trying to encourage colleagues to gossip or speak ill of a fellow professional is inappropriate. Also, anyone who witnessed this situation and did not intervene would benefit from studying up on allyship.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Co-signed,
    Chris Skoglund

    (We are posting this on Chris's behalf at Chris's request.)

    ReplyDelete
  49. Co-signed,
    Elizabeth Himowitz

    (We are posting this on Elizabeth's behalf at Elizabeth's request.)

    ReplyDelete
  50. Co-signed,

    Breanna J. McDaniel, University of Cambridge

    ReplyDelete
  51. Co-signed,
    Joy De Palm, Educator

    ReplyDelete
  52. Thank you to Carole and the authors of this statement.
    Co-signed with the hope that this opportunity is used to listen and revise your guidelines for conduct.
    —Laurie Young

    ReplyDelete
  53. This kind of behavior is on display at too many kidlit events.

    Co-signed
    Adria Quinones

    ReplyDelete
  54. Please see our official store statement in support of Carole Lindstrom and Dr. Reese at https://www.facebook.com/duendedistrict/posts/2333762270283253?notif_id=1555965751090938&notif_t=page_post_reaction

    Co-signed,

    Angela Maria Spring
    Owner, Duende District Bookstore
    American Booksellers Association Board Member

    ReplyDelete
  55. Definitely co-signed.

    - Kimberly Alberts

    ReplyDelete
  56. I tried to co-sign before, but was on my phone, and I don't think it went through. I apologize if this is a duplicate.

    --Veronica Schanoes
    Associate Professor
    Department of English
    Queens College - CUNY

    ReplyDelete
  57. Co-signed,
    Nanci Turner Steveson

    (We are posting this on Nanci's behalf at Nanci's request.)

    ReplyDelete
  58. Co-signed,
    Michelle Maloney-Mangold, Ph.D.

    ReplyDelete
  59. Co-signed.

    Crystal Brunelle
    Teacher Librarian

    ReplyDelete
  60. Co-signed,
    Benjamin Klas, author

    ReplyDelete
  61. Co-signed,
    Cory Eckert
    Librarian
    Founder, Storytime Underground

    ReplyDelete
  62. Co-signed,
    Loren Kaplan, elementary school teacher

    ReplyDelete
  63. Your organization needs to do some important work around decolonization and white privilege.

    ReplyDelete
  64. This behavior is unacceptable, but that does not mean it is too late for an apology and course correction! I hope the Children's Book Guild sees an opportunity for growth.

    Co-signed,
    Sasha Kuczynski

    ReplyDelete
  65. Co-signed,
    Noreen Naseem Rodríguez

    ReplyDelete
  66. Janine deManda, public librarian

    ReplyDelete
  67. Co-signed,
    Arigon Starr, member of the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma
    Artist | Writer | Tulsa Artist Fellow

    ReplyDelete