A blog by Just Us Books, Black-owned publisher of children's books that center and celebrate Black people, history and culture.
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Wade Hudson and Cheryl Willis Hudson, co-founders of Just Us Books and editors of the best-selling anthology We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices , will join children’s book creators in a live, virtual event for students in Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 11am ET/ 10 am CT. Hosted by PEN America, in collaboration with Just Us Books, Penguin Random House, The…
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…
The number of challenged and banned books in the United States has soared in recent years. According to Pen America, there were 22,810 instances of banned books in U.S. public schools from 2021 to 2025. Books have also been removed from libraries, museum shops, and even the United States Defense Department schools. The majority of titles that have been targeted contain themes about race, gender,…
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…
We remember fellow book publisher, Tony Rose, who passed away at the age of 74. Following a successful career in the music industry, Tony founded Amber Books with his wife Yvonne in 1996, specializing in self-help and music biographies. Amber went on to publish more than 1,000 titles, including African Americans and the Future of New Orleans: Rebirth, Renewal and Rebuilding . Under Tony’s…
It’s Women’s History Month, a celebration dedicated to learning about and sharing women’s many — and often untold — contributions to society. We honor women who have played, and are playing, an important role in leading, healing, teaching, advocating, and blazing trails to make our world better. Women like Susie King Taylor. Born into slavery in Georgia, she learned how to read and write in secret…
Founders Wade Hudson, Cheryl Willis Hudson, Paul Coates, Haki Madhubuti and Kassahoun Checole speak at IBPA's Legends of Black Independent Publishing panel As we start the second week of Black History Month, we hope this post will be an encouraging reminder of companies that are doing the work. Institutions that have made sharing our stories their mission. Black-owned publishers that celebrate…
Wade and Cheryl Hudson present at an event hosted by Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at the Portsmouth Public Library (1988) When we started Just Us Books in 1988, we used a grassroots approach to connect with readers and market our company. We knew we could not depend on the traditional book publishing ecosystem — the same one that told us there was no market for our books. We were a Black-owned…
On Christmas we called our dear friend and family George Ford. As usual, he was full of energy and encouragement. We talked about everything from Nikki Giovanni’s tremendous legacy to the new Netflix special The Six Triple Eight. As the conversation turned to our work as book creators, George shared some wise words. “It’s not about overcoming someday. It’s now. It’s us. It’s up to us.” The work…
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…
