Book Riot - The Podcast Checking in with We Need Diverse Books
Nov 3, 2025
Join Dhonielle Clayton, Chair of We Need Diverse Books, and Caroline Richmond, Executive Editor at the same organization, as they tackle the pressing issues of censorship and book bans affecting literature today. Dhonielle discusses the chilling effects on the publishing industry, while Caroline shares insights on supporting educators facing challenges. They explore the importance of diverse representation in books, highlight success stories like Amina Luqman-Dawson's mentorship journey, and urge listeners to take action in fostering inclusive reading.
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Hashtag To Nonprofit Movement
- We Need Diverse Books began as a viral 2014 Twitter hashtag responding to an all-white BookCon panel.
- Seed funding turned that hashtag into a grassroots movement and then a formal nonprofit.
Three-Part Pipeline Strategy
- WNDB targets three communities: creators, publishing industry, and educators/readers to change the whole reading pipeline.
- Programs include mentorships, internships, grants, and book donations to address supply and demand.
Backlash Causes Preemptive Retrenchment
- Recent political backlash has caused publishers to preemptively cut diverse lists and DEI initiatives.
- Caroline and Dhonielle say fear of harassment and distribution losses is driving a chilling effect.
