Just Us Books Receives Best in Business Award from NJ Black Business

What better way to celebrate Small Business Saturday than with a room full of Black entrepreneurs, Black business supporters - and a Best in Business Award?

It was our first time at NJ Black Business' annual awards event, and we were proud to be there as an honoree. The NJBB Awards are special because the organization was founded to help Black businesses grow, succeed, and increase their visibility. The awards - now in their fourth year - recognize businesses (15 total this year) that exemplify the highest in quality, integrity, and excellence. In short, it's for us, by us, and celebrates us. 

A celebration like this takes vision, commitment, and lots of hard work. We salute Natasha Bray, NJBB founder, for using her talents to bring this community together year after year. Thanks to keynote speaker and entrepreneur Lunic Boyd who spoke words of inspiration; to the judges; and everyone who helped to make the celebration so special.

And congrats to our fellow honorees (or as Lunic called us, “Warriors”). Between us, we have over 100 years of experience in business. We're in this together!

We listed all the honorees' Instagram handles below so you can learn more about the excellence of New Jersey’s Black business community. Of course, please follow us on IG as well, at @JustUsBooks 

@aboveartstudios | @we_shipping_co | @sweetsavorypalmers | @dashikipride | @uprisingstarinc || @printkreations | @montclairbrew | @upperroomevents | @jerseyturntupent |

@groomingextraordinaire | @nentikitherapy | @reid_financial_solutions | @yameanstudios |

@globaleliteschool

Photos courtesy of 2nd Chapter

Just Us Books Joins Well-Read Black Girl's First Family Day

Well-Read Black Girl hosted it first ever Family Day on November 3, 2019, expanding its annual festival to reach and inspire our youngest readers. Just Us Books authors Cheryl Willis Hudson and Katura Hudson were featured authors in this community event, which included author readings, storytelling, face painting and lots of children's books.

"We couldn't be happier with our our community showed u to support this new venture, and we're more excited than ever to continue to expand Well-Read Black Girl to make it a haven for black and brown readers and writers, young and old alike," said Glory Edim, founder, Well-Read Black Girl

WRBG Family Day was held at Weeksville Heritage Center in Brooklyn, an organization that works to document preserve and protect the history of the free Black community.

Congrats and thank you to Well-Read Black Girl for hosting this fun and affirming event.

Just Us Books Named Among NJ's Best Black Businesses

Just Us Books has been named one of New Jersey’s best Black businesses and will be honored at NJ Black Businesses’ 4th Annual "Best in Business Awards Ceremony.”

The event will be held on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 30 at 6 pm in New Brunswick.

We’re looking forward to celebrating Black entrepreneurship at this special event. If you’re interested in celebrating with us, please see details here: http://www.njblackbusinesses.com/tickets

Just Us Books Signs Useni Eugene Perkins to Picture Book Deal

Just Us Books has signed author Useni Eugene Perkins to a publishing deal for a picture book manuscript about Ghanaian leader Kwame Nkrumah. The book will focus on Nkrumah’s speech declaring Ghana’s independence from British rule, given in Accra in 1957.

Perkins is a poet, playwright, activist and distinguished figure of the Black Arts Movement. His piece, Hey Black Child, originally penned as lyrics for his children’s musical “Black Fairy,” gained international recognition and was published as a picture book in 2017. 

Read more about Useni Eugene Perkins in this Brown Bookshelf interview.

Just Us Books Named Winner of a 2019 Children's Book Council Diversity Award

We're proud to announce that Just Us Books has been named winner of a 2019 Children’s Book Council Diversity Outstanding Achievement Award.

The awards are given annually in recognition of children’s publishing professionals who have helped bring greater diversity to the creation of books for young readers and to the industry’s employment practices.

Thanks CBC for this great honor and congrats to our fellow honorees!

Read more in Publishers Weekly

Just Us Books Signs Award-Winning Author Marilyn Nelson to Picture Book Deal

Just Us Books has signed award-winning author Marilyn Nelson to a publishing deal for her picture book, Free Day Pie. The manuscript is based on a story Marilyn’s mother shared with her children about their grandfather's journey from slavery to establishing family roots in the predominantly Black town of Boley, OK, in the early 1900s. 

Marilyn Nelson is the 2019 winner of the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, and the author of numerous books for children and adults. She is also a contributor to our anthology with Crown: We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices. 

Marilyn is represented by the Serendipity Literary Agency.