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Coretta Scott King Award: 1930-2001 Retrospective
From a casual but concerned conversation during a library conference in 1969, to a loosely organized group of professional librarians, to the present Coretta
Scott King Task Force (ALA/Social Responsibilities Round Table), the history of the Coretta Scott King Award has grown in prestige and significance. In its infancy, the idea of an award to recognize African-American writers and
illustrators was met with less than lukewarm enthusiasm; 12 years elapsed before there was official recognition of the award by the American Library Association. Examination material from major publishers was limited in
number and often in quality as well.
In the early years, the Task Force was in search of African-American publications that would be recognized by the prestigious Newbery and/or
Caldecott Committees (ALA); such recognition did not happen until 1975. Over the course of time, the Coretta Scott King Task Force noted a slow but steady growth in interest in the award. Not only were more and more
quality manuscripts being submitted, but well-researched contents of several non-fiction titles were seen as essential to filling in the many gaps in the history of this country, and the positive role of the African-American in
its growth and development. For example we have the social histories by Patricia and Fred McKissack, the archeologist/writer documentary from the pen of Joyce Hansen, and James Haskins' biographies of unsung heroes, past
and present. While still recognizing familiar figures in the world of children's book illustration, the Coretta Scott King Task Force also awarded such artists as Jerry Pinkney, Ashley Bryan, and Tom Feelings. What
a joy it is to introduce to readers works from such contemporary artists as Javaka Steptoe, Synthia Saint James, James Ransome, Gregory Christie, and Brian Pinkney, to name a few.
Another significant development in the Award process was the establishment of the John Steptoe New Talent Award. On one level, it recognizes an
African-American author and/or illustrator who has had no more than three works published. On another level, it speaks to the need for encouraging new talent on a global scale.
In the new millennium the CSK Task Force has designed several ways to give wider visibility to the meaning and purpose of the award. The Public
Awareness Program, with Honorary Chair, author Virginia Hamilton, includes among its activities workshops and exhibits in major museums.
Material is also available for use in both educational and re-creational settings:
DeCandido, GraceAnne A. The Coretta Scott King Awards Discussion Guide ALA , 2000.
Smith, Henrietta M., ed. The Coretta Scott King Awards Book: From Vision To Reality. ALA , 1994.
The Coretta Scott King Awards Book 1995-1999. Scholastic Books.
The Coretta Scott King Awards – Thirty Years of Excellence - A Tribute. 1999 (Video for promotional use only, not for sale.)
The story of the Coretta Scott King Award is indeed the story of a dream that is now a viable and enduring reality.
Dr. Henrietta M. Smith is professor emerita on the faculty of the School of Library and Information
Science, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, where she continues to teach youth-oriented courses. She has served on the Newbery and Caldecott Committees and has served as chair of both
The Coretta Scott King Task Force and the Coretta Scott King Selection Jury.
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