Honoring Voices: The Coretta Scott King Book Awards

Exhibition Dates: February 13 – May 15, 2025
Exhibition Location: The Joseph Regenstein Library, Fourth Floor, 1100 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards celebrate exceptional books for children and young adults that honor African American culture and universal human values. Named after Coretta Scott King, a civil rights leader and advocate for peace and equality, the awards recognize the achievements of African American authors and illustrators whose works inspire and uplift.

The Coretta Scott King Book Award was founded in 1969 by librarians Mabel McKissick and Glyndon Greer during the American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference in Atlantic City, NJ. The first award was presented in 1970 to Lillie Patterson for her biography, Martin Luther King, Jr.: Man of Peace. In 1974, George Ford became the first illustrator recipient for Ray Charles, written by Sharon Bell Mathis. In 1995, the Genesis Award, later renamed the John Steptoe Award for New Talent, was introduced to honor emerging African American authors and illustrators. Sharon Draper was the first recipient for Tears of a Tiger. The Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement was established in 2010. Walter Dean Myers received the inaugural award in 2010, followed by Dr. Henrietta M. Smith in 2011.

The awards are presented in author and illustrator categories, with honor recipients also recognized. Additionally, the John Steptoe Award for New Talent is occasionally bestowed upon young authors or illustrators who demonstrate exceptional promise at the start of their careers. The Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement is given biennially. In even years, it is awarded to an African American author or illustrator for a significant body of work. In odd years, the award is presented to a practitioner for significant contributions to youth engagement with award-winning African American literature through reading-related programs and activities.

Over time, the Coretta Scott King Award has expanded from recognizing primarily biographies and histories to honoring books that address important African American issues such as slavery, social injustice, and self-esteem. In recent years, many of these award-winning titles have faced challenges and bans, often labeled as promoting "critical race theory" or accused of making other groups feel uncomfortable. Ironically, an award established to amplify diverse voices has seen its honorees silenced in schools and public libraries. Despite these challenges, these books remain vital in fostering understanding, empathy, and a more inclusive literary landscape.

The Fourth Floor exhibit in three cases features award-winning books and information about the Coretta Scott King Book Awards. A display of more award-winning books is available for browsing or checkout on the First Floor of Regenstein Library across from the Circulation Desk.

Visitors

This exhibit is free and open to the public. Visitors to the University of Chicago Library may obtain a visitor pass by checking in at Regenstein Library's entry desk. Get more visitor information. See Regenstein Library hours.