We recently connected with Veronica N. Chapman and have shared our conversation below.
Veronica, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?
I am the author of children’s books, “I Know I Can!” and “King Khalid is PROUD.” I published my first children’s book in 2015 to address the dearth of children’s books with Black representation. Often my customers would ask me how they could find other Black children’s books. Unfortunately, the authors I knew didn’t have a platform where I could direct them. After receiving this question multiple times, I launched the Black Baby Books Instagram account.
A year later, I built an accompanying website that made it easier to discover children’s books with Black characters. Initially I thought that would be enough, but after hearing from Black families, authors, and educators, I knew I had to use my growing platform to do more.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers
I am the Founder and Chief Designer of Boxxout Enterprises where I design and launch creative solutions for social change. One venture that I have launched under Boxxout is Black Baby Books, LLC.
Research shows that when Black children see themselves represented positively in books and other media, it fortifies their self-esteem and helps protect them from the impact of racism. Accordingly, at Black Baby Books we help make the world better for Black children by harnessing the protective and affirming power of positive Black representation in children’s books and other children’s media.
We accomplish this goal by:
Promoting Children’s Books With Black Characters: Our website and social media platforms make it easier for parents, educators, and other advocates for Black children to discover Black children’s books. We also help Black indie authors who publish books with Black characters reach an audience interested in purchasing their books.
Founding and Facilitating Black Children’s Book Week: This week is a global celebration of Black children and their representation in children’s books and other children’s media. It is an activating force that encourages collective action to disrupt the impacts of structural racism on the development of Black children. We do this by motivating Black authors; publishers of Black children’s books; educators; libraries, parents, and all advocates for Black children to celebrate Black children and acknowledge the power of positive representation.
Launched in 2022, to date celebrants have hosted hundreds of online and in-person events to honor Black children and their representation in cities and towns throughout the United States; in the UK; Canada; Nigeria; and Ghana.
Investing in Black Authors: Since 2022 we have invested $5,000 in 10 Black independent authors, ages 9 to 55 years old, to help with publishing and marketing expenses. Authors chosen for investment are determined by the audience at a pitch competition that we host during Black Children’s Book Week.
Founding and Designing The Black Children’s Book Museum: Located in the Metaverse, our dynamic shoppable museum showcases the work of our Black Children’s Book Week sponsors. This is another vehicle we use to make it easier to discover and support Black children’s books.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
There are two podcasts that I absolutely love, that serve as a great source of inspiration for me along my entrepreneurial journey: How I Built This with Guy Raz and Side Hustle Pro with Nicaila Matthews Okome.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I launched the Black Baby Books Instagram account after my customers would repeatedly ask me how they could find other Black children’s books after purchasing mine. Because it was truly difficult to find children’s books with Black characters the Black Baby Books IG account truly fulfilled a need. Consequently the account grew organically as parents, educators and others began following to discover books they could purchase for the Black children in their life, or to diversify their bookshelves.
If you are building a social media presence, be really clear about the purpose or mission of your platform, and use hashtags relevant to your mission.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://blackbabybooks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blackbabybooks
- Other: My IG: https://www.instagram.com/boxxoutent Link To My Books: https://www.boxxout.com/books-that-inspire