Cicely Lewis wants kids to love to read—and to read woke. As a former ELA and Spanish teacher and an award-winning librarian at Meadow Creek High School in Norcross, Ga., Lewis created the Read Woke challenge in her school library and is known to many as the “Read Woke Librarian.” Because of her efforts, Lewis was named the 2020 National Librarian of the Year by School Library Journal and Scholastic and the 2019 Library Journal Mover and Shaker, in addition to receiving the 2019 National Teacher Award for Lifelong Readers by the NCTE and Penguin Random House. Most recently, she became the executive editor and author of the Read Woke brand at Lerner Publishing Group. Her books include the nonfiction titles Resistance to Slavery: From Escape to Everyday Rebellion, Left Out of History: The Real Story of the White House, and History in Pictures: Focus on Civil Right Sit-Ins. Her forthcoming fiction books are part of the Read Woke chapter book series, beginning with Imani Picks Up the Pieces. PW spoke with Lewis about her library work and her Read Woke challenge, her response to people who have a problem with the use of the word woke, and her hopes that her readers will join her in fighting for social justice and against racism.
You began your career teaching English and Spanish and pivoted to the school library eight years ago. How and why did you make this transition?
I’ve have always been someone who likes to promote literacy and get people to fall in love with reading. As an ELA teacher, I was able to reach a group of kids; but then, I realized that as a high school librarian, I could basically be a teacher for every kid in the building. So I went to my principal to share my interest in being the librarian, and to see how I could be a good fit. He gave me an opportunity, and I took a chance. He allowed me to take the position while I got my certification. It came together very organically. It was the best decision that I’ve ever made.
I truly believe my job is a calling because everything that I’ve done has lined me up for this position. To start, I studied Spanish in college, received my Spanish certification, taught Spanish for six years—and I even did a mission in Honduras. When I came to this school, I did not know that most of the student population were Spanish speakers! So now I get to speak Spanish every day with students and parents, and welcome new students to the U.S. who only speak Spanish. I can see the weight come off their shoulders when they realize that they have somebody to communicate with and to rely on as they learn English. I was made for this position and love being a school librarian. I don’t ever want to leave!
What has been the greatest joy of being a school librarian?
One of my greatest joys is our annual Quinceañera Book + Fashion Show. As part of the celebration, my students who take part get to model their quinceañera gowns in a school fashion show after reading a book by a Latinx author and writing a book review about it. So they’re able to wear their gowns one more time in front of their peers. That’s how I sell it to them. I lose a lot of them because of the reading requirement, but the ones who stay are committed. They continue with the reading, and we form a bond—a community. We include anyone who wants to join—girls from all nationalities—and boys are welcome, too, even if they didn’t have a uinceañera. We partner with the local dress shop that provides gowns for the students who don’t have one. Some of the kids who participate end up planning future fashion shows—and others even get jobs at the dress shop.
What was one of the biggest challenges?
All you have to do is turn on the television or read the papers to see the problems in our country that are impacting all of us—including my students. The greatest challenge was when a student came in crying because DACA has been repealed, and they were trying to work towards citizenship, and when we heard of the shootings of unarmed young Black people, the Muslim ban, and the debate after transgender students used the bathrooms. With this loss of hope, rights, and life, I recognized that I needed to do something. I thought, “What can I do as a librarian?” My students were growing frustrated and I wanted to give them something positive that could help and be beneficial to them. I couldn’t keep doing my Harry Potter celebrations and going home to my comfortable house. I am a Black woman with kids and students who are looking to me for answers. I’m never going to be able to play it safe, nor do I want to play it safe. There is a huge responsibility for us as educators to have an impact. So I started the Read Woke challenge in my school library.
To date, your Read Woke challenge has spread to 29 states and three countries. What is the mission behind it?
The mission is for students to really fall in love with reading and to become adamant readers. At the same time, we want them to become knowledgeable of their rights and to develop empathy. To join the Read Woke challenge and to get a t-shirt, students have to read two books on topics of interest, or listen to two podcasts, or watch two documentaries, report on them—and then take action. I’ve curated so many awesome resources for them to have a full plate of information about these topics so they can become real experts. Because once they become experts, we want them to take action. That’s my favorite part. Some of the actions that have been taken include writing a grant to help teen mothers at our school start home libraries for their children, and one of my students hosted a social justice talent show.
While some people have had issues with the word woke, and with some of the topics that the kids are reading about, these books have messages of knowledge and tolerance and unity. They also let readers know that there are others going through what they might be going through. For example, LGBTQ students need to read stories about people like them who are living regular lives—and that they can identify with. And, when kids don’t have that, you don’t have to wonder why there’s such a high suicide rate among LGBTQ teens.
My hope is to increase knowledge and decrease ignorance. As we all know, a lot of hatred and racism is based on ignorance. If we have access to information, we can make a change. The program has changed lives—including mine. People have started calling me the Read Woke Librarian.
You’re also the executive editor and an author of the Read Woke series with Lerner Publishing. How did the series come to be?
Because of my Read Woke Librarian status and Read Woke challenge, Lerner sponsored me to speak at the Florida Association for Media in Education conference. And as a result, we had some conversations, and we thought it would be a good idea to work together. From the start, they wanted to know what I wanted to see in books—and what topics I would like covered. I knew that I really wanted to work with them because they believe in providing representation and knowledge about these issues for their readers.
As executive editor of the series, I am involved in every step of the way with the other writer, Elliott Smith. I have also written a number of nonfiction titles and have an upcoming fiction chapter book series.
What are some of the titles you’ve written?
My book Resistance to Slavery is all about challenging the notion that Black enslaved people didn’t fight back. Black people have always resisted. My title History in Pictures highlights some of the lesser-known people involved in the Civil Rights movement. And I was inspired to write Left Out of History when former First Lady Michelle Obama made a speech in 2016 where she said, “I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves.” I wanted to share that story with Black children for them to take pride in this, and themselves, and with other kids for them to learn and to respect another culture.
There are so many stories that I want to share with readers, and Lerner has given me the opportunity to help break down some stereotypes and misinformation in these books. They’re jam-packed with powerful information that will hopefully serve as a springboard for kids looking to learn more.
What can you share about your new and upcoming chapter book series?
While my nonfiction books address the trauma and effects of slavery and racism, and many issues of the Black experience, my fiction series is about the beauty and happiness—and Black joy. My upcoming Hair Magic series features a Black girl named Imani, and is an ode to my 10-year-old daughter, Trinity, and to all girls—especially Black girls around the world—to really look at themselves and to love themselves.
When my daughter was born, I remember I was looking at her and wanting her to love who she was in a world that isn’t always kind and can be even worse for Black girls. That’s because we are constantly being told that we’re not beautiful, our hair is not straight enough or long enough, etc. So, with this series, I want to let my daughter and all little Black girls know that they are beautiful, and to build them up so much that if the world tries to bring them down, they’re insulated. I recently went on a natural hair journey with my daughter. I went natural and I started really loving on her hair and nurturing it, and I wanted to share that with the world.
What would you share with those who have a problem with the word woke?
I would just say if you hate the word woke—which signifies awareness—but you don’t hate the words racism, discrimination, homophobia, Islamophobia, antisemitism—and all of the other “isms” that affect our world, then there’s something wrong. And you might be the problem.
Fortunately, there are many beautiful people of all races doing work for social justice, who have been supportive of my work and me You can’t pigeonhole people in one group or another. I try not to do that. I have to get to know someone. And, then I might not like you—but I am going to give you a chance.
