Last week, Linda Sue Park, Laurie Halse Anderson, Meg Medina, and I
resigned from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI)
Board of Advisors and Equity & Inclusion Committee. My letter of
resignation is below. I removed one person’s name to protect her privacy.
When I was elected to the SCBWI Board
of Advisors by the membership in 2006 and re-elected in 2010, my platform
focused on increasing programming, resources, and opportunities for nonfiction
authors and illustrators. For the last 15 years, I have done my best to
advocate for nonfiction and the people who create it, often despite
considerable resistance. There is still so much I want to accomplish on behalf
of the many children who prefer nonfiction and for whom fact-based books are
the gateway to literacy. But given SCBWI’s current situation, this organization
no longer seems like the best place to pursue my goals.
Right now, the organization’s
most pressing need is to carefully re-think and re-build its structure, so that
it can be stronger going forward. I feel the best way for me to contribute to
that more positive future is to give up my seat on the Board of Advisors and
the EI committee. My hope is that it will be filled by a creator of color, so
that the voices of people from traditionally marginalized communities can be further
amplified within the organization and within the children’s publishing
community.
When XXXX invited me to join the
equity and inclusion committee, she knew I had a lot to learn, but she could
see that I was willing to put in the work. Since then, I have been reading and
thinking, and most of all listening. While I still have a long way to go, I have
come to understand the incredible exhaustion people of color experience every
day in this country, that grants and awards can seem like insulting handouts,
and that microaggressions occur everywhere, including our Board meetings. But
most of all, I have seen how difficult it is for Black and Brown people to try
to explain feeling unwelcome or unseen and unheard to White people who have
such a different experience. When BIPOC go to the trouble of sharing this kind
of information in an effort to improve an organization, it’s a gift to be
treasured. When the SCBWI leadership finds itself in this position in the
future, please listen.
Sincerely,
Melissa Stewart
37 Responses
I am glad you posted your letter, Melissa. You've been such a tireless advocate at SCBWI for NF writers and for kids who love NF, and I'm very sad that SCBWI has lost your towering talents. Let's hope changes will happen soon.
Thank you, Melissa for all you have done and what you have done here – sharing your letter but most importantly making literal space for change to happen. Your words are powerful and heart felt but your actions tell the real story.
Thank you, thank you.
Elizabeth
Much respect for your decision. Thank you.
Melissa, I have enjoyed meeting you and respect you tremendously for the work you do for craft and for creators. Thank you so much for sharing your letter and for the advocacy you have demonstrated for BIPOC creators in the kidlit space and within SCBWI. I do hope change will occur.
Thank you, Melissa, for your hard work and for making and sharing this difficult decision.
Thank you for your allyship, Melissa.
Melissa, thank you for the explanation and your continued efforts to promote nonfiction and BIPOC creators. Let's hope that SCBWI will grow from this painful period and become a better organization.
While I am saddened that we will no longer have your voice on the BofA and EI committee, I support your decision.
Thank you for all you have done for SCBWI. You have been a tireless advocate for KidLit creators, and most importantly, for the kids who read our books. I have learned so much from you over the years and looked to you as a role model as I entered the industry. I still do.
I have every confidence that you will continue to be a powerful voice for children and the people who make books for them.
A great letter. This is courage. Thank you.
This is so well said, and I am so grateful for your good work and for you speaking up.
Thank you for sharing your rationale and taking action.
Thank you for serving on the committee, and for your brave decision now.
Thank you, Melissa, for your years of service, and your courage. I support you 100%.
Thank you for this, and for all the work you do to lift your fellow creators.
Your letter and work continue to be an inspiration.
Thank you!
Thanks for all you've done, and all you will continue to do to support BIPOC creators and be a voice for all kidlit writers. Our community is better and stronger when all creators are given equal space and opportunities.
So well said. Thank you for all your work, Melissa.
You have been a tremendous force for good in the SCBWI. I understand your choice. Making room is important. But that doesn’t mean I won’t miss your guidance. Thank you!
Melissa, you have always inspired me to grow in and give back to the children's publishing community. This decision is you leading by example yet again. Thank you.
Thank you, Melissa. You have done so much for so many. I appreciate all of your hard work and dedication to the field, to children, and to other creators. Much love!
Melissa, you have worked tirelessly and generously to promote NF kidlit. Thank you so much for everything you've done and continue to do. And a huge thank you for taking this action and publishing this brave letter. Changes are needed at SCBWI. I hope they happen soon.
Melissa, I know that you've always done your best in everything you do. This letter of resignation must have been difficult for you. You are an inspiration!
Thank you, Melissa and all the other Board of Advisors, for taking this step. This professional,esteemed group that is resigning is truly showing allyship. I am watching closely and agree, we need to do so much better in understanding what our BIPoC colleagues go through.
Thank you Melissa. Though I was only on the committee for a short while, you spoke for me too. I know the most important thing I can do as a well-intentioned white person is to listen and be grateful when BIPOC folks share their truth with me.
Well said, Melissa. I respect your decision and hope SCBWI’s leadership is listening. I appreciate all you’ve done for nonfiction writers and illustrators and BIPOC colleagues.
Thank you for your courageous decision and statement, Melissa, as well as for your years of service to all in the nonfiction category.
Thank you for your tireless on behalf of NF authors and illustrators, Melissa. I appreciate your honesty and integrity.
I applaud your courage and integrity, and the work you've accomplished for SCBWI.
Thank you Melissa for your immense strength in leading and guiding NF in this group. May your efforts be recognized and helpful in keeping SCBWI on the right track in this area. You are a true leader.
Thank you for sharing this, Melissa. I am sure it was a very difficult decision to step down and to speak publicly about it. Hopefully it will help to improve the organization and our industry as a whole in the long run. All best to you.
Thank you for your thoughtful response, Melissa and for your advocacy for NF authors, illustrators and readers.
Beautifully said, Melissa! Thank you…I’ve learned so much from you.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Because I trust and respect you, I am paying attention to this issue.
Thank you, Melissa, for all the work you've done on behalf of our children and for your voice and leadership. Thank you for sharing your letter.
I am late to this discussion. I applaud the work you have done for readers, Melissa, and for I applaud your integrity. Stepping aside to make room for other voices can be difficult. Yet you display grace. Best wishes with your next path.
Thanks for all your work, Melissa, and for speaking up and sharing this letter.
Thank you, Melissa, for all the hard work you have done and for making and sharing this difficult decision.