Coretta Scott King Award
[1] The idea for the Coretta Scott King Award came from Glyndon Flynt Greer, a school librarian in Englewood, New Jersey.
[2] At a meeting of the American Library Association in Atlantic City in 1969, Greer, librarian Mabel McKissick, and publisher John M. Carroll, lamented the lack of recognition for minority writers.
Before the conference ended, a group of African American librarians had formed to promote the creation of a new award.
In 1976, a separate awards committee and an advisory board of mostly local librarians were formed, co-chaired by Ella Gaines Yates.
With support from E. J. Josey, the new committee became part of the Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) of the American Library Association.
Winning and honor books are identified by the presence on their covers of the Coretta Scott King Award Seal.
Dr. Henrietta M. Smith edited four volumes, published by the American Library Association, that provide a history of the award.
[13][11] It is presented to creators and practitioners alternately: in even years, to an African American writer or illustrator of books for children or young adults; in odd years, to a practitioner for "active engagement with youth using award-winning African American literature for children and/or young adults, via implementation of reading and reading related activities/programs.
