NBCDI debuts Book, Toy and Media Awards at national conference in Atlanta
In 2022, U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock was looking for a way to creatively pass his father’s wisdom down to his two children.
The following year, Warnock, also senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, wrote “Put Your Shoes On and Get Ready!,” a storybook borrowing his dad’s catchphrase about staying prepared. He later released “Leo’s Lunch Box,” about food insecurity and the first installment of his “We’re in This Together” series of books, last April.
The legislator told UATL children’s books are teaching tools for children to understand morals and enhance self-esteem.
“It’s finding ways to say things in ways that kids can get it, know they’re loved, valued and full of potential. If children feel good about themselves and we help them see their beauty and brilliance, then learning is much more fun and effective,” Warnock said.
Warnock is among the honorees at the National Black Child Development Institute’s inaugural Book, Toy and Media Awards at The Dogwood at Westside Paper on Saturday. The ceremony recognizes Black authors, toymakers, filmmakers, writers and content creators who produce positive programming and products for Black kids.
Author Jacqueline Woodson, Nickelodeon executive Makeda Mays Green and Fresh Dolls creator Lisa Williams are also receiving awards. Novelist Jason Reynolds is the event’s keynote speaker.
Animator Bruce Smith, creator of the Disney Channel animated sitcom “The Proud Family” and its Disney Plus reboot “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder” is being presented an award with showrunner Ralph Farquhar. The animated series tells the coming-of-age story of a Black teenage girl, her immediate family and diverse peer group.
Smith said with “The Proud Family” he wanted to create a show like “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy” for diverse audiences to laugh and learn growing pains.
“I created caricatures of folks in my family, and it was important to me that these characters sounded grounded and real like us. It’s planting us firmly in genres that you normally don’t see us in,” Smith said.
“I want to create projects that have the existence of Black folks being the norm, and we’ve proven that Black characters can exist in spaces where we can entertain and be honest with our storytelling.”
The Book, Toy and Media Awards are part of the National Black Child Development Institute’s national conference, happening Oct. 24-26.
The three-day gathering will convene educators, nonprofit organizations, policymakers, community leaders and entrepreneurs to strategize and discuss methods for ensuring Black families and children have equitable access to education, wellness and safety. Conference activities will include town hall meetings, workshops, photo galleries, breakout sessions and speeches.
Tatjyana Elmore, National Black Child Development Institute’s Atlanta chapter president, said the goal of the awards and conference are to create solutions for prioritizing a child’s well-being.
“We want to make sure they’re able to learn more about themselves, the world around them and the position they have in their communities. It allows us to provide advocacy tools to rally around families to thrive,” Elmore said.
Leah Austin, president and CEO of National Black Child Development Institute, calls the conference a “think and do tank.” She said Atlanta was chosen as host city because of its history and reputation for gathering Black community figures.
“Atlanta is this centerpiece for arts, culture, civil rights and advocacy. It has proven itself to be a real global influencer in helping people understand and think about what culture means, so it’s the perfect picture of what’s possible,” Austin said.
The awards arrive at a time when diverse stories are being censored and banned from bookshelves and cultural institutions. Austin hopes it can motivate others to create authentic and multicultural creative works.
“We’re in a time where we’re watching our experiences, stories, history and data be erased or dismantled, so we need organizations and people to stay committed to creation,” Austin said.
“It keeps our stories alive, well and vital to our own survival.”
NBCDI Book, Toy and Media Awards. Saturday, Oct. 25. 7 p.m. $150-$1,350. The Dogwood at Westside Paper, 950 West Marietta Street NW, Suite B140, Atlanta. nbcdi.org
About the Author
Christopher A. Daniel is a Black Culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is an Atlanta-based, award-winning journalist, cultural critic and ethnomusicologist. He previously taught courses at Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Georgia State University.
