We are white library workers organizing to confront and dismantle racism in the field of children’s and young adult literature. We are committed to working for authenticity and visibility in books, and to supporting opportunities for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) in all aspects of the children’s and young adult book world. As white people, we acknowledge the existence of systemic racism and white privilege as we take action in the work of advocating for anti-racist politices within our field and beyond. We are learning, and hold ourselves responsible for understanding how our whiteness impacts our perspectives and our behavior as we strive to advocate for this movement.
We know that we lack the expertise that BIPOC have on minoritized racial experiences. We resolve to listen to, learn from, and be accountable to BIPOC who are able and willing to speak about those experiences. We resolve to examine our own white racial experiences without expecting BIPOC to educate us.
This is a living document that we expect (and hope) will change as we all learn more and as we hear more from our colleagues.