Many of us had Black superheroes growing up, whether it be from television shows, video games, or books. But what happens when those superheroes begin to disappear from popular culture?
Most of our TV and movie heroes are based on book characters, and we’re on the verge of future Black generations not having fictional or non-fictional Black characters they can look up to.
Black characters have decreased in bestselling children’s books by 23% since 2020, leaving less characters for Black children to relate with among top-selling and best book lists. Not only can that be uninspiring, but it makes it more difficult for kids to see these characters on their screens and games.
However, this does not mean Black authors and bookstores aren’t continuing to center Black life and characters in their stories. Even if these books aren’t making the bestsellers lists, it’s important for us to seek them out and support independent Black authors and publishers who don’t get the same recognition as white authors.
Black parents must continue to purchase diverse children's books, especially from Black authors and bookstores. It’s up to us to create these opportunities for our children and support their futures.