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Celebrate Black History Month With Award-Winning, Graphic Novelist Jerry Craft; Acclaimed Author Sheryll Cashin; More
About Blog Post
Jan 25, 2022
by SCLSNJ
“Libraries and books inspire people to go outside of their normal lives to explore new people, new cultures, and new experiences,” said Jerry Craft, award-winning author and illustrator.
This February, connect with your community and explore the experiences and culture of Black people throughout history with the Somerset County Library System of New Jersey (SCLSNJ) through meet the author events, programs, resources, and more.
Youth: Connect With Award-Winning Graphic Novelist Jerry Craft
On February 22 at 4:30 p.m., students in grades 2-7 can digitally connect with Craft. During the program, Craft will discuss his journey to becoming a bestselling, published author and illustrator; share the creative process behind his graphic novels; and provide a drawing demonstration during a Q&A session.
Craft was inspired to write his graphic novels based on his own experiences as well as those of his peers. “New Kid” and “Class Act” tell the humorous narratives of middle school students struggling to fit in.
“Jordan Banks [the main character in ‘New Kid’] is a combination of my experience in high school where I was one of the few kids of color in a prestigious private school in Riverdale; and a lot of my two sons’ experiences from middle school,” said Craft. “Drew [the main character in ‘Class Act’] is more of a combination of a lot of kids who I grew up with, as well as kids who I see when I do school visits. I like the two of them because they have a lot in common, but also a lot of differences.”
Craft has won numerous awards for his works including the Kirkus Prize, the Coretta Scott King Award, and the John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children’s literature. “New Kid” was the first graphic novel in Newbery's history to receive the honor.
“I was stunned [to receive these honors],” he said. “As a kid, I was always told that comics would ‘rot my brain,’ and that they weren’t ‘real reading.’ So, to grow up to make THE comic/graphic novel that won three of the biggest literary awards in the industry was bigger than any dream that I ever imagined.”
He continued, “In fact, because I wasn’t a reader, I wasn’t even aware of these awards until I was an adult. But, I couldn’t be more honored!”
Craft explained that as a child he “hated” to read books and was only interested in “Marvel Comics,” but as he reached his 20s he started to read more. It wasn’t until his 30s that he “thought to sit down with a good book as a source of enjoyment.”
“And, now I’m [an award-winning] author, so, you never know what you’re capable of,” said Craft. “But for me, it started with books! There is so much that I want to see because of characters I have met in books.”
Craft hopes that attendees of his presentation will realize that “anything is possible.”
“It is important for us all to be seen and heard,” he concluded. “And, to make the effort to take the time to see and hear others.”
Craft is currently working on the third installment of the New Kid saga, which will include all of the favorite characters from the first two novels.
“SCLSNJ is thrilled to host Jerry Craft for a virtual program during Black History Month,” said Karen Telesco, system program coordinator, youth services. “We hope that attendees will be inspired by Craft as he discusses his creative journey and shares his experiences.”
For more information, or to register for the virtual program: sclsnj.libnet.info/event/5705183.
In addition to Craft’s virtual appearance, SCLSNJ will host a variety of virtual and in-person programs for youth that celebrate the history, accomplishments, and culture of Black individuals this February.
“The Library welcomes our young customers to a full line-up of Black History Month programming,” said Telesco. “Explore your musical side with an African drum circle at our Bound Brook, Bridgewater, Manville, and North Plainfield branches and discover a variety of instruments from West Africa and get ready to dance. Virtually learn stories of hope, triumph, and tragedy through storytelling in the African oral tradition virtually. There is a little something for everyone to explore.”
For a complete list of programs, visit: SCLSNJ.org/events.
Adults: Discover Black History With Authors Sheryll Cashin and Richard Bell
“This February, SCLSNJ will touch on a variety of topics that revolve around the multifaceted Black experience in America,” said Darryl Voorhees, manager of adult services programming and collaborations, public services.
Adult Library customers will have the opportunity to connect with authors that focus on themes including the end of slavery in the United States, the history of interracial marriage, and the Reverse Underground Railroad.
On February 10 at 7 p.m., Library customers will have the opportunity to virtually meet acclaimed author Sheryll Cashin, who will discuss her 2017 book “Loving: Interracial Intimacy in America and the Threat to White Supremacy,” where she delves into how interracial love and marriage changed history.
“What I tried to do with “Loving” while I was telling the sad story of three and a half centuries of the state trying to keep people of all colors away from each other, was lift up the subversive interracial couples throughout time, who defied lines for love,” said Cashin. “It's a beautiful story of allies of all colors persistently resisting supremacy.”
The book focuses on the 1967 court case Loving vs. Virginia, a monumental civil rights decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, which “ruled that laws banning interracial marriage violate the Equal Protection and Due Process Clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
For more information, or to register: sclsnj.libnet.info/event/5044529.
On February 22 at 7 p.m., Library customers will discover the Reverse Underground Railroad with history professor and author Richard Bell during a virtual program.
“The idea that free African Americans living in the United States were kidnapped into slavery is something many of us are familiar with, although there's been very little scholarship on that phenomenon until quite recently,” said Bell. “But, outside of university history departments, I think the sheer scale and volume of kidnapping of free Black people into slavery is largely unknown. I wrote this book as a way to share a particular story from that [occurrence] and to shine a light on the broader phenomenon of kidnapping of freed black people into slavery.”
He continued, “I call it the Reverse Underground Railroad, in part because it reminds us that just as many people were being carried into slavery within America, as were risking everything to try and flee it.”
Bell’s book “Stolen: Five Free Boys Kidnapped Into Slavery and Their Astonishing Odyssey Home," which tells the narrative of five young, free Black boys that are kidnapped back into slavery, was a finalist for the 2020 George Washington Prize and the 2020 Harriet Tubman Prize.
For more information, or to register: sclsnj.libnet.info/event/5054202.
Library customers looking to explore more about the Reverse Underground Railroad and “the experience and impact of African Americans as recorded by the news media” can explore the Library System’s new digital resource Black Life in America.
“Black Life in America provides comprehensive coverage spanning four centuries of Black history, illustrating the significant impact Black Americans have made on culture, the arts, science, politics, religion, and more,” said Linda Tripp, collection development librarian. “This unique, digital archive balances 400 years of historical primary source information with content that is updated daily.”
Tripp continued, “We expect that this resource will be of interest to many of our customers, but particularly to researchers, history buffs, and genealogists. One feature students and teachers will find helpful are nearly 800 suggested searches with direct links to useful content, organized by topic, event, and eras in history.”
For a complete list of digital resources available at SCLSNJ, visit: SCLSNJ.org/databases.