Hundreds of US children's authors sign pledge to tackle racism and xenophobia

Declaration on website The Brown Bookshelf signed by more than 400 writers and illustrators in 48 hours, including Jacqueline Woodson and Daniel José Older

Hundreds of American children’s authors and illustrators have put their names to a declaration citing their commitment to using literature “to help eliminate the fear that takes root in the human heart amid lack of familiarity and understanding of others”.

The National Book Award-winning children’s author Jacqueline Woodson is one of more than 400 writers to sign the statement on website The Brown Bookshelf. The site was set up to promote African American children’s writers by the authors Kelly Starling Lyons, Tameka Fryer Brown, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Don Tate, Gwendolyn Hooks, Tracey Baptiste, Crystal Allen, Paula Chase-Hyman, Varian Johnson and Jerry Craft, who are all signatories to the letter.

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