Random House Children’s Books and Just Us Books celebrated the launch of Cheryl Willis Hudson and Wade Hudson’s middle grade anthology, We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem on September 6. The evening opened with live music by contributor Curtis Hudson’s band, the Janet Van Kline Jazz Ensemble, and more than 20 contributors shared their pieces from the treasury and signed books for attendees. We’ve gathered a selection of photo highlights from the festivities.
Cheryl Willis Hudson and Wade Hudson, co-founders of Just Us Books, discussed the process of crafting their new collection.
Authors (from l.) Tracey Baptiste, We Rise contributor Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, and Renée Watson.
Phoebe Yeh (l.), v-p and publisher of Crown Books for Young Readers, who edited the anthology, with Barbara Marcus, president and publisher of Random House Children’s Books.
Janet Van Kline of the Janet Van Kline Jazz Ensemble sang a rendition of “Summertime.”
Pat Cummings and Chester Higgins Jr., who both contributed to the anthology.
Author-illustrator Nina Crews (l.) signing her photo collage, “You Can Do It,” for Katura Hudson, daughter of Cheryl and Wade Hudson.
Contributors (from l.) Tony Medina, Eric Velasquez, and Charles R. Smith Jr. taking a selfie.
Wade’s brother Curtis Hudson, a We Rise contributor, with his band.
The Hudson family, (from l.): Wade, Cheryl, Katura, and Stephan J. Hudson.
George Ford and Bernette G. Ford, We Rise contributors and long-time friends of the Hudsons.
Wade Hudson showing his gratitude for the Fords’ toast.
Yeh and more than 20 of the We Rise contributors commemorated the evening with a group photo.
