The story of Black children’s books isn’t only written by authors and illustrators. It’s also built by librarians doing the quiet, stubborn work of making stories reachable. We sit down with Deborah Taylor, a widely respected advocate who spent more than 44 years at the Enoch Pratt Free Library in Baltimore, shaping teen services, school partnerships, and the national conversations that influence what gets recognized, purchased, and placed in young hands.

Deborah takes us back to the late 60s and early 70s, when books for Black teens were scarce and stories reflecting urban life were even harder to find. She explains how librarians responded to that gap with programming, creative collection building, and a clear belief that information is power. We dig into a practical tension libraries still face today: how to keep collections fully integrated while also making it easy for a parent or teen to walk in and quickly find books that feel like mirrors instead of obstacles.

We also explore libraries as part of community wellness, where curated reading supports mind, body, and spirit for families under stress. Deborah breaks down how awards and committees help change the ecosystem, why the expansion into joy, fantasy, mystery, and speculative fiction matters for Black childhood, and what it feels like when a room full of kids turns pages together during a citywide reading program. Finally, she names the current backlash and book banning pressure for what it is and what it demands next: vigilance and coalition.

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A missing mirror can change a life. In this chapter of Reading in Black, we move from the long arc of history to the intimate origins of four trailblazers whose early reading experiences—both abundant and absent—sparked a lifelong mission to center Black children on the page. We welcome Deborah Taylor, retired librarian of the Enoch Pratt Free Library; Dr. Violet Harris, Professor Emerita and leading scholar of African American children’s and youth literature; Dr. Cavanya Hinton Johnson, scholar of young adult literature; and Dr. Ebony Elizabeth Thomas, researcher and author on race and representation in children’s and YA books.

What emerges is a clear throughline: personal histories shape professional missions. These guests transformed missing mirrors into advocacy, scholarship, and new pathways in publishing and education. You’ll hear how they sought out titles, mentored gatekeepers, and insisted on stories that capture Black childhood in all its fullness—joy, curiosity, struggle, and triumph. Their journeys offer a roadmap for anyone who cares about equitable access, culturally responsive classrooms, and the power of books to build identity.

If this conversation moves you, make sure to follow Reading in Black, share this episode with a friend who loves children’s literature, and leave a review with the first book that made you feel seen. Your story helps shape the shelves of tomorrow.

During Episode 1, we hear from Dr. Violet Harris as she traces the history of Black children’s literature—from The Brownies’ Book to the works of Virginia Hamilton and Mildred D. Taylor. This episode explores the global legacy of stories that celebrate and affirm the beauty and brilliance of Black childhood.