Black lives matter, and the systemic racial injustice prevalent throughout the U.S., in its law enforcement system and in all systems, is an unacceptable affront to the civil rights and human dignity of Black Americans. First Draft has sought to uplift voices from all races, ages, gender expressions, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds. But this podcast and its host, me, Sarah Enni, have a long ways to go. I am taking this time to donate, call on my elected representatives, speak to my friends and family, and actively uplift the voices of Black Americans. I am also examining this podcast as a platform that must be better at amplifying marginalized voices.
I have compiled a list of the Black authors featured on First Draft, and their work. The links will take you to Loyalty Bookstore, founded by Hannah Oliver Depp, a Black and Queer Bookseller who has spent her career working to diversify the book industry in order for it to better serve the powerful communities of color and queerness.
JUSTIN A. REYNOLDS Justin A. Reynolds, author of The Opposite of Always, answered questions on an April 24, 2020 mailbag episode, and he was also a part of the live show from YA-HooFest on November 11, 2019.
TOCHI ONYEBUCHI Tochi Onyebuchi, author of Riot Baby, War Girls and its upcoming sequel, Rebel Sisters, and Beasts Made of Night and its sequel, Crown of Thunder, answered questions on a March 26, 2020 mailbag episode and was featured in the October 16, 2018 episode.
SOMAIYA DAUD Somaiya Daud, author of Mirage and its forthcoming sequel, Court of Lions, answered questions on a February 28, 2020 mailbag episode, and featured in the August 28, 2018 episode and the July 5, 2014 episode (the very first First Draft episode ever).
JASON REYNOLDS Jason Reynolds, author of the Ghost series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, Lu), When I Was the Greatest, The Boy in the Black Suit, As Brave As You, Miles Morales: Spider Man, Long Way Down, For Every One, Look Both Ways, and co-author of All American Boys (with Brendan Kiely) and Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism, and You (with Ibram X. Kendi), was on the podcast’s October 8, 2019 episode.
RENÉE WATSON Renée Watson, author of What Momma Left Me, A Place Where Hurricanes Happen, Harlem’s Little Blackbird, This Side of Home, Betty Before X, Some Places More Than Others, Piecing Me Together, Ways to Make Sunshine, and co-author of Watch Us Rise (with Ellen Hagan), was on the podcast’s January 22, 2019 episode and the February 21, 3017 episode.
TIFFANY D. JACKSON Tiffany D. Jackson, author of Allegedly, Monday’s Not Coming, Let Me Hear a Rhyme, and the forthcoming Grown, was featured on the October 30, 2018 episode.
NIC STONE Nic Stone, author of Dear Martin, Odd One Out, Jackpot, Clean Getaway, Shuri, and the forthcoming Dear Justyce, was featured on the October 2, 2018 episode.
JULIAN WINTERS Julian Winters, author of Running With Lions, How to Be Remy Cameron, and The Summer of Everything was featured in the July 31, 2018 episode.
DANIELLE PAIGE Danielle Paige, author of the Dorothy Must Die series (Dorothy Must Die, The Wicked Will Rise, The Yellow Brick War, and The End of Oz), the Stealing Snow series (Stealing Snow, Queen Rising), Mera: Tidebreaker, and the forthcoming Betty Cooper: Superteen and The Ravens (co-authored with Kass Morgan), was featured in the July 11, 2017 episode.'
LIARA TAMANI Liara Tamani, author of Calling My Name and All the Things We Never Knew, was featured on the October 31, 2017 episode.
TOMI ADEYEMI Tomi Adeyemi, author of Children of Blood and Bone and Children of Virtue and Vengeance, was featured in the March 13, 2018 episode.
DHONIELLE CLAYTON Dhonielle Clayton, author of The Belles and The Everlasting Rose, and co-author of Tiny Pretty Things and Shiny Broken Pieces (with Sona Charaipotra), was featured on the February 27, 2018 episode and the July 19, 2016 episode.
NICOLA YOON Nicola Yoon, author of Everything, Everything and The Sun is Also a Star, was featured on the September 8, 2015 episode.
BRANDY COLBERT Brandy Colbert, author of Pointe, Little & Lion, Finding Yvonne, The Revolution of Birdie Randolph, The Only Black Girl in Town, and the forthcoming The Voting Booth, was featured on the August 4, 2015 episode, the November 14, 2017 episode.
STEPHANIE KUEHN Stephanie Kuehn, author of Charm and Strange, Complicit, When I Am Through With You, The Smaller Evil, and Delicate Monsters, was featured on the November 11, 2014 episode.