Melanin in YA

Imagine a space where you can easily find the next YA book written by a Black author to add to your TBR list. Best of all, amongst that book are an endless amount of other YA books waiting to be discovered by you, all written by Black authors. In that same space, you can find out if any of these authors have a book event near you or will be attending a festival / convention near you. In that same space, you can find out their NYT bestseller stats, book to screen adaptation details, a list of Black audiobook narrators to listen to, a detailed list of Black literary agents to query, Black bookish social media influencers to follow, Black led bookish podcasts to subscribe to, Black owned bookstores to visit and so much more. 

That space is Melanin in Y.A. A database for all things Black in traditional young adult publishing. It acts as a no excuses cross-referencing tool for industry professionals, press, readers, writers, students, educators, librarians, program administrators and more. It’s available to you 24/7 for free.

I, Melody Simpson, created Melanin in YA in August 2020 and have been running it entirely by myself from day one. I really want to hire an intern to help me out because maintaining and promoting this is a lot but I’m tapped out on funds and cannot afford an intern right now. Though I am in desperate need of one and would never ask anyone to do the amount of work that I need done without paying them. If you’d like to help in that regard, you can do so here (gofundme) and no donation is too small, thank you so much. If you’d like to help out in other ways, can you please do any of the following below to help amplify this invaluable resource? 

1) Follow and/or repost/retweet Melanin in YA content on Instagram or Twitter

2) Shop merch at Shop Melanin in YA

3) Send the melanininya.com link to your English teachers / professors, librarians, favorite booksellers, colleagues, fellow book club members, anyone you know who loves books, anyone you know who values diversity, equity and inclusion, and everyone you think could use this resource.

Full transparency, when Melanin in YA first launched, there was lots of excitement around it. But it’s been quite the struggle to get people to talk about this resource and share this resource outside of moments in time, say other than Black History Month or when something tragic doesn’t happen to Black people and makes it to mainstream news. I appreciate your support 365 days a year. Especially during a time when Black YA books are being banned more than ever before. This resource is so necessary. Your support is so necessary. It means so, so much. 

Thank you.

🤔 #blackculture #blackexcellence #blacklove #blackhistory #blackgirlmagic #blacklivesmatter #melanin #blackwomen #blackpower #melaninpoppin #black #blackisbeautiful #blackmen #blackpeople #blackbusiness #blackcommunity #blackowned #blackunity #blackpride #blackownedbusiness #blackwealth #blackgirlsrock #blackfamily #explorepage #buyblack #blackconsciousness #africa #blackandproud #blackempowerment https://www.instagram.com/p/Ckas4m2u3qn/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

On this day in 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated while speaking at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, NY.

Edit: In a conspiracy that involved federal, state and local officials, on 28 February 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated while speaking at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem, NY.

We exist. We are here. We will thrive.

Habari Gani? Day 5 of #Kwanzaa is #nia or #purpose for strengthening community. What can you do? #graphicnotes #sketchnotes #illustration #wip #swahili #procreate #blackhistory #blackculture #blackbusiness #blackcommunity https://www.instagram.com/p/CmzLr1wJXXd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Tell me about income and wealth disparity in America

I went to a panel tonight on Reimagining Public Health in NYC - A Discussion on the Racial and Wealth Gap and Health Equity

Me:

Can you write an essay about the connection between redlining, income and wealth gap, and health outcomes in the Black community? Highlight the disparity in maternal mortality race based upon race

ChatGPT:

The connection between redlining, income and wealth gap, and health outcomes in the Black community is multifaceted and complex. Redlining, a discriminatory practice that involves denying financial services or access to housing based on race, has had a significant impact on the economic wellbeing of Black families. This, in turn, has contributed to the widening income and wealth gap between Black and white households, which has led to disparities in health outcomes.

Redlining began in the 1930s and was a federal government policy that allowed banks and other financial institutions to deny loans and insurance to people living in certain neighborhoods. These neighborhoods were typically populated by Black families and other minorities, and the practice was based on the assumption that these communities were risky investments. As a result, these neighborhoods were deprived of essential resources such as quality education, healthcare, and healthy food options.

The legacy of redlining has contributed to the income and wealth gap between Black and white households. According to a study by the Brookings Institution, the median wealth of white households is ten times that of Black households. This disparity is largely due to historical and ongoing discrimination that has limited Black families' access to education, employment, and housing opportunities.

The income and wealth gap has had a profound impact on the health outcomes of the Black community. Black Americans have higher rates of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease, which are often linked to poverty and limited access to healthcare. They are also more likely to die from these diseases than white Americans.

One area where the impact of these disparities is particularly stark is maternal mortality. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Black women are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. This disparity cannot be explained by differences in income or education level, as it persists across all socioeconomic levels.

There are several reasons for this disparity, including the fact that Black women are more likely to experience complications during pregnancy, such as hypertension and pre-eclampsia. They are also more likely to receive substandard care during pregnancy and childbirth, including being ignored or dismissed when they report symptoms of distress. Studies have shown that implicit bias and stereotypes about Black women's pain and abilities to cope with childbirth are also factors.

To address these disparities, it is essential to address the root causes of redlining, income and wealth gap, and implicit bias in healthcare. Policies and initiatives that promote equitable access to education, employment, and affordable housing are essential. Additionally, healthcare providers must receive training to recognize and address implicit biases that may affect their care of Black patients. Finally, Black women must be empowered to advocate for their health and hold healthcare providers accountable for providing high-quality care.

In conclusion, the connection between redlining, income and wealth gap, and health outcomes in the Black community is a complex and multi-layered issue. The legacy of redlining has contributed to the income and wealth gap between Black and white households, which, in turn, has led to disparities in health outcomes, including maternal mortality. Addressing these disparities will require a comprehensive approach that involves addressing the root causes of redlining, income and wealth gap, and implicit bias in healthcare.

Hello friends and community members, I am excited to announce that I am in the process of opening West Philadelphia's first container toy store in the Parkside Container Village. This unique concept store will provide a fun and interactive shopping experience for families and children of all ages. However, I need your help to make this dream a reality. I am seeking financial support to cover the costs of outfitting the container with shelves, displays, and other necessary fixtures. By supporting this campaign, you will be helping to bring a new and exciting addition to the Parkside community. Please share this campaign with your friends and family to help spread the word and make this toy store a reality. I appreciate your support!

"Making a statement in my black tee, nothing can bring me down!" Follow @hotbutton.in for a journey to a world of limitless possibilities! #BlackLivesMatter #BlackPride #BlackUnity #BlackPower #BlackExcellence #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackGirlMagic #BlackJoy #BlackCommunity #BlackLove #hotbuttongymwear (at Tshirt) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnJDfE1KXK-/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Sex Sells! Exploring the Music Industry.

NO. 1

From “Chapter Two: Hip Hop, Context, and Black Girlhood.” Counterpoints, vol. 399, 2012, pp. 16–31. ‘‘The hegemony where domination is maintained through contemporary democratic societies not through the use of force, but through winning the consent of the people.’’ How many times has Gen Z heard from educators, politicians, and parents alike that the rap genre today should be discouraged as the lyrics are filled with violence, exploitation, criminality, and sexual themes? The music industry understands that the culture of black and brown people perpetuates the idea of fighting against such domineering systems but, unfortunately uses those ideas against that very people. Major music artists such as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Jermaine Dupri, and Percy ‘Master P’ Millers share a large majority of profits with major record labels, but the industry as a whole is ‘white controlled’. And if any rapper wants to be successful socially and financially, they will change their image and structure their performance, lyrics, and music videos to cater towards the ‘White imagination.’

NO. 2

But then there is the other side of the fence that believes that people are going to gravitate toward what they feel motivates them, inspires them, and utterly captivates them no matter the judgment that is unleashed. Regular people cannot change how the music industry operates, so it makes more sense for these rappers to make steady profits from these mega companies. Plus, it is not the responsibility of these rappers to enforce a cleaner message for children and young adults. New female rappers like Ice Spice, Megan the Stallion, Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, and others are breaking the ‘glass ceiling’, and are widely successful and popular for their music. They are bringing more attention to the rap game and are paving the way for the next generation of female rappers, proving that they can be just as successful as their male counterparts, if not more. Their success is encouraging more women to pursue rap/hip-hop.

NO. 3

Most female rappers of the time today could not be where they are without honoring those who contributed to hip-hop and rap: young Black and Latino youth. From “Under Construction’: Identifying Foundations of Hip-Hop Feminism and Exploring Bridges between Black Second-Wave and Hip-Hop Feminisms, ‘‘In the late 1970s and 1980s, hip-hop was. in part, a response to the class exclusivity of the New York disco scene and the growing gang culture of inner-city New York. Initially, the culture was created as a social and recreational space for the working-class and poor folk who had been pushed to the fringe of society and forgotten. Gradually, hip-hop emerged in the recreational space but also in which to voice contempt for the living conditions of the economically and racially marginalized. From its inception, hip-hop has represented resistance to contemporary political and economic oppression that makes social marginalization possible.’’

NO. 4

As a woman of color and anthropologist, I completely understand both sides of the controversy of rap. As much as female rappers are breaking the rap game, so to speak, their lyrics perpetuate negative stereotypes of the Black community and hostile misogyny toward women. It is not the first time, nor will it be the last, for society’s judgments towards rap and the people who create it will be called into question, but there should at least be a conversation about it so that we can all have a better experience. Society itself holds a double-edged sword when it comes to this, as this music is appreciated by suburban white males, wanting to identify with a culture that is not there behind closed doors while belittling the culture and artists in the limelight. No matter the judgment and hypocrisy, these artists success speaks for themselves.

Read it again! #blackculture #blackexcellence #blacklove #blackhistory #blackgirlmagic #blacklivesmatter #melanin #blackwomen #blackpower #melaninpoppin #black #blackisbeautiful #blackmen #blackpeople #blackbusiness #blackcommunity #blackowned #blackunity #blackpride #blackownedbusiness #blackwealth #blackgirlsrock #blackfamily #explorepage #buyblack #blackconsciousness #africa #blackandproud #blackempowerment https://www.instagram.com/p/CmfcBmDtghd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

BOOK REVIEW

Dark Testament : Blackout Poems Crystal Simone Smith Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) @macmillanusa

With Dark Testament : Blackout Poems, Crystal Simone Smith shares the mourning and pain of a community, deeply wounded by unlawful killings and racism : Oscar Grant, Eric Garner, Trayvon Martin, Sybrina Fulton, Michael Brown, Jordan Davis, Michelle Kenney, Daunte Wright, Aiyana Jones, Laquan McDonald, Rodney King, Sandra Bland, George Floyd, Walter Scott, or Breonna Taylor ; to only name a few of a very long, too long list. It is to them, and many others, that Smith’ s poems are dedicated.

In her poems, Crystal Simone Smith shares the voices of the Black Community and Black Lives Matters Movement. She shares the voices of the dead, but also the ones of the living. I have never read Black out poems before. They give a very unique perspective on the text, a poem within the poem with a totally new meaning. This collection of poems is beautiful, deep, and sad. It is a tribute to justice, truth, equality and love. It is definitively a book needed to be read and shared with the Community.

Habari Gani? Day 6 of #Kwanzaa is #kuumba or #creativity. Don’t get me started :) #graphicnotes #sketchnotes #illustration #wip #swahili #procreate #blackhistory #blackculture #blackbusiness #blackcommunity https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm17gUxJkCT/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

This is true in every facet of life. We as Black people settle for so much nonsense. Half of us desperately want to “fit”. We have ZERO business being a LIBERAL or a CONSERVATIVE. We have ZERO business being a DEMOCRAT or a REPUBLICAN. They only “care” about us when it’s an election year. We are SCARED to OSTRACIZE the criminal element in our communities. That is one of the main reasons we get ZERO respect (They’re ALL criminals!”)  How can one expect a STRANGER to respect them when their own BROTHERS & SISTERS don’t respect each other?

"...Do I have to wake you up just to know what kind of love is in your cup of coffee every morning as I take mine black as intellectual minds influence me..." - Kloud Nimbus, Cup of Coffee #poetry #nycpoet #nycartist #blackpoet #blackpoetry #blackcommunity #blacklove #melanin #coffee #cupofcoffee #coffeeandpoetry #poetryporn #poetrynyc https://www.instagram.com/p/CkeW8LTpGM6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Full poem : https://at.tumblr.com/kloudnimbus/cup-of-coffee/ospecbudhxlz Follow the poetry: https://www.tumblr.com/kloudnimbus