THE BLACK BOOK PROJECT WELCOMES YOU!
Making cultural representation a priority one book at a time!
The Black Book Project is an organization that collects and distributes donated books while promoting the importance of representation to the children who need it most. We believe in taking action with urgency in order to raise public awareness about two pressing issues facing today’s society: representation and literacy. Please join us by supporting our efforts to make a measurable difference in the lives of children in our communities.
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Tennessean
Meet the founder of the Black Book Project!
Hello, my name is Meredith McKinney, and I am a proud graduate of Oakwood University and Alabama A&M University in Huntsville, AL. I currently reside in Nashville, TN. I am a Metro Nashville Public Schools employee, former teacher, and mother who noticed the urgent need for diverse representation in children's literature. I am incredibly passionate about literacy and education. I am a wife and mother of two boys, Carter and Chase McKinney. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, spending time with family and friends, perfecting "Made by Meredith," a gourmet chocolate-covered strawberry and pretzel business. However, I am most passionate about ensuring children get books they can relate to. Representation in literature is Incredibly important. Helping children see themselves in literature makes reading relatable and helps children to feel empowered.
-Meredith M. McKinney
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About the Black Book Project
In January 2020, the Black Book Project was born. Meredith McKinney asked close friends and family to support this idea of collecting books featuring African American characters for children in Nashville. The original goal was to collect 500 books by the end of February 2021 in honor of Black History Month, and that goal was quickly exceeded; over 1,000 books had been donated by the end of that month, and the rest was history. Since our start, we’ve collected and distributed over 8,000 Books! The Black Book Project continues to serve the need for diverse books in Nashville, TN and has recently expanded to Huntsville, AL. Education happens within the context of a larger community. Our approach extends beyond the school to help ensure black students have and read books that have characters that look like them. Representation matters more now than ever, and our goal is to educate young people about their power and potential through literature, one book at a time.
If you are interested in having Meredith McKinney, speak at your organization or
company to promote awareness and ways to support the Black Book Project, please email:
blackbookprojectnashville@gmail.com
Become Part of History With The Black Book Project
The Black Book Project cannot do this work without you!
We continue to seek additional sponsors, partnerships, monetary donations, and book donations to help us continue to reach our most vulnerable children, one book at a time
BOOK DISTRIBUTIONS FOR NASHVILLE - DATES FOR 2024, COMING SOON!
The Truth Behind the Facts -
Research suggests that 75% of characters in children's books are not African American.
The Black Book Project aims to make cultural representation in children's literature a priority one book at a time!
CONTACT THE BLACK BOOK PROJECT
The Black Book Project is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Meredith McKinney
629.279.5631