‘If I see something that I want to change, I’m going to change it’

The Higgins Lounge in Dana Commons became a space for storytelling and cultural reflection as education Professor Raphael Rogers ’94 discussed his new book, “Representing Black Girl Magic with Contemporary Picture Books,” with a group of Clarkies and about 20 students who attend an after-school program from Woodland Academy, a neighborhood elementary school.

The Feb. 25 talk, part of Clark’s Black History Month programming, chronicled Roger’s journey to publish his book and examined the barriers Black authors, particularly Black women, face in the perpetually uphill fight for diversity in children’s literature, illuminating the pressing need for representation in early educational spaces.

“Representing Black Girl Magic with Contemporary Picture Books” details the significant contributions of Black women in the world of children’s literature. The volume, published by Routledge, features the works of 28 authors, including Tola Okugwa (“Black Girl Power”), Alice Faye Duncan (“Just Like A Mama”), Cozbi Cabrera (“Me & Mama”), and Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie (“Layla’s Happiness”). Tallie joined Rogers’ talk and offered valuable insight to Woodland Academy students about following their passions and carving their own stories.

Rogers, who grew up on the island of St. Thomas in the Caribbean, described his childhood as one shaped by Black women educators who implemented a culturally sustaining curriculum. His teachers emphasized the legacies of some of the island’s most prevalent icons like educator Addelita Cancryn; Edith Williams, the first woman who attempted to vote in the Virgin Islands; and educator and women’s rights activist Bertha C. Boschulte, the namesake of Rogers’ middle school. Rogers said these role models — who centered the empowerment of Black youth and created an atmosphere of joy while educating children about their potential and importance — shaped his admiration for the work of Black women in educational spaces.

Because Rogers was surrounded by affirming narratives and mentors who made a concerted effort, he was able to see himself in the stories he read and the lessons he learned as a child, he said. However, upon raising his daughter, Mia, in Western Massachusetts, Rogers noticed a stark contrast between her experience and his — it lacked that same culturally enriching foundation.

And Rogers’ concerns are not unfounded. Statistics from the Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC) show a significant disparity in racial representation within children’s literature. The CCBC’s study showed that 41.8% of books featured white primary characters and 29.2% focused on animal or other non-human characters. Only 11.9% of books had Black or African primary characters. The disparity becomes even more apparent when considering other groups: Asian/Asian American characters appeared in 8.7% of books, Latinx characters in 5.3%, and Indigenous characters in a mere 1%.

Determined to bridge this gap, Rogers and his wife scoured libraries across Massachusetts, seeking out books that depicted Black children in ways that resonated with Mia. The family often hit limits on the number of books they could borrow at one time.

“We would travel to a lot of libraries looking,” Rogers said during the talk. “I have a collection of books that are in my home for me and my daughter, and it’s easier to find books now than ever before … but in the past, it was a challenge.

“We just wanted her to see reflections of her because it was so rare to see a book that represented her and her family in her school.” Rogers recalled receiving an email from one of his daughter’s teachers, admitting the curriculum failed to represent Black girls. It was moments like these that fueled his mission to advocate for the needs of girls of color and highlight the contributions of these writers, like Tallie.

During the talk, Tallie delved into the vital role contemporary picture books play in filling the gaps in elementary education regarding Black culture, particularly the representation of Black women. She shared her personal journey, explaining that her passion for writing children’s literature stemmed from her own struggles as a child to find books that reflected her lived experiences. Now pursuing her doctorate at Brown University, where she is focusing her dissertation on the writing of Ntozake Shange, Tallie is committed to ensuring that Black girls are exposed to messages of self-love from an early age.

“When I had my daughter, I wanted her to also feel good in her skin,” said Tallie. “So, I started writing because that’s what I know to do. If I see something that I want to change, I’m going to do some writing to change it.”

She emphasized the need to dispel any notions that Black culture is a monolith and added that all Black stories deserve to be told — a sentiment echoed by Rogers. Tallie read from her book “Layla’s Happiness,” illustrated by Ashleigh Corrin, accentuating the importance of everyday joy, community, and relationships in children’s literature.

Students from Woodland Academy eagerly engaged with Tallie, asking about her background, her journey, and how she achieved her dreams. In response, she spoke candidly about not being the best student in school but persevering by focusing on her strengths and surrounding herself with a supportive community.

That message of resilience was echoed by Rogers. “Lean into what you love, stick to it, remain tenacious in the face of challenge, and surround yourself with supporters,” he said.

Both authors also highlighted the significance of the Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference in helping emerging Black writers gain visibility and connect with the communities they seek to serve.

Rogers and Tallie stressed that representation in children’s literature is not just about diversity but about validation, empowerment, and shaping the way young readers see themselves and the world.