Amid Increased Calls For Diverse Representation, Local Authors, Bookstore Amplify African American Success Stories In Children's Books

Arlington TX

07 February, 2022

6:21 PM

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By Sandra Sadek, Fort Worth Report February 7, 2022 Louie T. McClain II did not start learning about the accomplishments of African American pioneers like Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois and Ida B. Wells until the age of 25. Discovering more about these historical figures made McClain recognize the lack of positive Black role models represented in early childhood literature. This gap in media prompted the now 36-year-old Arlington native to launch the publishing company Melanin Origins with Frank Minikon in January 2016. For McClain, diversifying representation breaks the cycle of introducing kids to Black leaders with "an inferiority complex." "Representation matters, especially at a young age," McClain said. "Whenever the conversation begins about Black people in history, it starts off with a tale of slavery, and then it moves on (to the civil rights movement)." McClain and Minikon, both fathers to young kids, are hoping to create quality educational content for children in the second grade and below about the historical achievements of African American leaders, pioneers and historical figures. To read the full article, click here. Fort Worth Report is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news organization that produces factual, in-depth journalism about city and county government, schools, healthcare, business, and arts and culture in Tarrant County. Always free to read; subscribe to newsletters, read coverage or support our newsroom at fortworthreport.org.