Representation Matters

I created Literature Like Me as a school librarian with nearly 30 years of self reflection and perspective. Growing up, I wasn’t the kind of child you’d find curled up with a book or eagerly browsing the library shelves. In fact, reading felt like a chore—something I dreaded, especially as I got older. I have vivid memories of wandering through the library as an elementary school student, searching for a book that truly spoke to me, only to walk away feeling frustrated and disconnected. The one exception — Betsy the Babysitter—a book I checked out year after year simply because the characters looked like me. That singular important connection made reading feel joyful and meaningful.

Everything changed for me when I arrived at Howard University in Washington D.C. As a student freshman year, I was immersed in the vibrant culture of an HBCU and surrounded by literature and experiences that reflected my identity and history. For the first time, I saw myself represented everywhere—not just in the faces around me but also in the pages of books. While studying for my teaching license at Ursuline College in Pepper Pike, Ohio, a history professor further exposed me to authentic representation in literature which inspired me, shaped a positive sense of self, increased my confidence, and most importantly, grew my love of reading and books.

In 1997, I began my teaching career with the Cleveland Public Schools in Ohio, where I created meaningful library experiences despite limited funds and resources. Years later, while working as one of only two Black librarians in my school district, I found myself reliving the same feelings I had as a young girl—searching for fiction and non-fiction in the library with stories, images and information to which I and my students could really connect. I noted with some pain that some of the students who looked like me often experienced the same disconnect I had as a child. Throughout my career, I often found myself in school and district wide meetings about academically struggling students—particularly students of color—who were disengaged from reading and how we might make efforts to close the “achievement gap.”

Determined by my goal to shift the narrative from “achievement gap” to “opportunity gap,” I created a book club for girls of color, and intentionally selected books by authors that celebrated diverse voices and experiences. I watched these young readers light up with pride and walk through the halls confidently with their books in tow. That book club was more than just a reading group—it was a welcoming safe space where students saw themselves in the chosen books, felt a sense of belonging, and developed an awareness that their voices and stories mattered.

Today, my mission is clear: I want to ensure that all children can find mirror images of themselves in books. The joy, growth, and empowerment that representation brings is life-changing; and through Literature Like Me, I’m committed to making my dream a reality for as many young readers as possible.