Founders' Reflection On 37 Years

Today marks the last day of Just Us Books’ anniversary month. We are so thankful that we have been able to do this work for 37 years! Publishing books that help our young people learn about Black history, Black culture, and Black experiences is an honor.

As with all businesses, there have been challenges to overcome and successes to celebrate. But, like our ancestors before us, Just Us Books remains committed to a mission that is bigger than us…telling our stories.

It is more important than ever that we continue to share our stories because Black history and Black institutions are under attack locally and nationally. The campaign to dominate the narrative about who we are as a country is going full throttle. This false narrative seeks to remove as much information as possible about Black people and other marginalized groups from the American story.

Just Us Books remains committed to the truth. To publishing books that center the rich and fertile history and culture of Black people who have contributed so much to this country and the world.

We truly appreciate the generous support we have received over the years from booksellers, educators, librarians, parents, and most of all from our audience of children and young people. That support is even more important now because the challenges we face — from censorship and book banning to a struggling economy — are enormous. But so is our faith. And we will continue to do all we can to push forward and help make this a better, more inclusive, and just society for all.

We encourage everyone to do the same. Be intentional with your spending; prioritize Black publishers like Just Us Books, Black Classic Press, Third World Press, Africa World Press, the community of Black writers, artists, and other institutions dedicated to telling and sharing Black stories. Borrow our books from the library, share them with friends, post about them on social media. Every action of support makes an impact.

And as always, remember,

Good Books Make a Difference!

Wade Hudson & Cheryl Willis Hudson

Black Business Month - A Time for Action

 

Black Business Month (August) is almost here, and it’s not only a time for celebration, it’s a time for action. Black-owned businesses are a vital component of society — driving innovation, creating jobs, contributing to the community, and in the case of publishing — sharing and preserving important stories, history, and culture. When Frederick E. Jordan and John William Templeton founded Black Business Month in 2004, their goal was not only to recognize Black-owned businesses and their contributions but to “drive the policy agenda” given the unique challenges Black business owners face.  For Jordan, one of those big challenges was lack of access to capital, which continues to be a hurdle today. Add to that budget cuts, book bans, growing opposition to inclusive books and history, and a strained economy and indeed it’s a challenging time. To continue making an impact, Black businesses need sustained investment. As we navigate this climate as entrepreneurs at Just Us Books, we’re also doing all that we can to uplift our fellow Black businesses, including: -More intentional spending. We prioritize Black, small and local businesses for everything from printing for our books to catering for our events. -Growing our networks. We want to be able to find the businesses we need and recommend them to others, even if we don’t require their products or services at the time.  -Use our platforms to amplify. We post businesses on social media, highlight them in every newsletter, and use our events and other channels to spread the word. What’s an action you’re taking to invest in Black owned businesses? We’d love to hear your ideas. For more suggestions, check out: 9 Ways to Support Black-Owned Businesses  Pictured above: Just Us Books founders Wade and Cheryl Hudson with fellow publishers, Haki Madhubuti, founder of Third World Press Foundation and Paul Coates, founder of Black Classic Press, at the Havana International Bookfair in Cuba.

Book and Bookish Gift Ideas from Small Businesses and Creators

In the spirit of cooperative economics, we’re spotlighting book and bookish gifts from independent creators and small businesses. There’s something for everyone, adults included!

And remember, when you shop small, you’re not just giving unique and meaningful gifts — you’re supporting talented creators and making a real difference in independent businesses. 

Here's our list:

King of Kindergarten Tonie based on the award-winning picture book by Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton 

I’m Still An Afro-Bets Kid sweatshirt

Shirts featuring the Afro-Bets Kids, who helped launch Just Us Books 36 years ago. (Available in kids and adults sizes)

Charlie Drew and His Missing Stethoscope

By Dr. David C. Miller, illustrated by Cameron Wilson - a picture book about an 11-year-old genius who attends Howard University Medical School as the youngest student in the United States in medical school.

Leverage Everything In Life journal 

Designed to help you map out your next big idea, organize daily tasks and everything in between.

Just Us Books pom pom beanie 

Sisters of the Sidewalk by Shadra Strickland

A digital print from Shadra's picture book Jump In. 

Good Books Make A Difference canvas tote

A stylish carrier for books and more.

On My Own: Vision Board Guidebook for Young People by Patrick Oliver guides young people through an interactive process that will help them with goal setting. 

Black Children’s Book Week tee

Celebrate the global event that spotlights Black children and their representation in children's books and other media. Plus: Save the date for the 2025: February 23 - March 1, 2025

Black Collection shirts 

A collab between Just Us Books and creative brand From the Xrt celebrating Black book publishing and some of the many people who make it possible. 

Good Books Make A Difference mug

Enjoy your favorite books with your favorite beverage.

Just Us Books, Nation’s Leading Black Owned Children’s Book Publisher, Celebrates 35th Anniversary

(West Orange, NJ) September 22, 2023 ─ The average life span of a small business is eight and a half years according to The New York Times. As Just Us Books prepares to celebrate 35 years in business, it’s not only beating the odds, it’s also continuing to blaze a trail, publishing children’s books that center and celebrate Black stories, history and culture.

“Just Us Books’ 35th anniversary is not just a celebration of our company,” says Wade Hudson, CEO and co-founder. “It’s a recognition of 35 years of children reading, learning, growing, and being affirmed through stories that reflect the richness of Black culture and history, which is especially important in today’s climate of banned and challenged books.”

The company plans to celebrate the milestone throughout its 35th year, which begins October 1, 2023, with special content and events, including a bookfair being planned for spring.

“We’re reminded every day ─ by teachers, librarians, parents, readers of all ages ─ that our work, our books are needed,” says Cheryl Hudson, Editorial Director and co-founder of Just Us Books. “Their support has been such a big part of Just Us Books’ journey. So we’re looking forward to celebrating this milestone with our extended community throughout the year.”

The Just Us Books journey began in the early 1980s. Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, who live in East Orange, NJ, were parents in search of children's books that reflected the diversity of Black history, heritage and experiences. Disappointed by the number they found and their limited availability, the couple embarked upon a mission: to create the kind of positive, Black-interest books that they wanted for their own two children.

Combining their experience, Wade’s in writing and marketing, Cheryl’s in art and publishing, they developed ideas for books that shared universal children’s themes from an Afrocentric perspective. The couple presented manuscripts to publishing houses but they were repeatedly turned down ― several publishing professionals even doubting the viability of a market for children’s books featuring Black characters. So the Hudsons decided to publish the books themselves. The AFRO-BETS A B C Book was released in 1987 and Just Us Books was incorporated a year later.

The success of the small press soon proved doubters wrong. Titles including Bookof Black Heroes From A to Z and Bright Eyes, Brown Skin became classroom and library staples. And larger publishing companies followed Just Us Books’ lead, publishing and widely distributing more children’s books featuring diverse stories and characters.

The company’s 35-year history has been marked by numerous accomplishments including a production partnership with Crown, an imprint of Random House, which produced the three anthologies including the award-winning We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices; a 1999 marketing partnership with General Mills and the UniverSoul Circus; and the publication of In Praise of Our Fathers and Our Mothers, a book about the Black family that brought together celebrated authors and artists, including Gwendolyn Brooks, Virginia Hamilton, Walter Dean Myers, Jeanne Moutousammy-Ashe, Leo and Diane Dillon, Fred and Patricia McKissack. Its books, including From A Child’s Heart; The Secret Olivia Told Me, I’m A Big Sister Now and Kwame Nkrumah’s Midnight Speech for Independence, have earned numerous awards. Just Us Books has won multiple honors, including Small Business Pioneer of the Year, the Children’s Book Council Diversity Award, and its founders have become recognized leaders in publishing and the push for diversity in children’s literature, with the couple being awarded the prestigious Carle Honor for Mentorship in 2022. 

In 35 years of operation, Just Us Books has become more than a children's book publishing company; it's become an institution. It also remains one of the nation's few Black-owned publishers. And the company continues its mission grounded in the same belief that helped launch the company three and a half decades ago: Good books make a difference.

Just Us Books’ titles can be purchased wherever books are sold and via its website: justusbooks.com. Connect with the company on social at @JustUsBooks across all platforms.