On November 20, 2024, the National Book Foundation celebrated literary excellence at its annual National Book Awards Ceremony at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Among the honorees were two individuals with deep ties to the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA): W. Paul Coates, recipient of the prestigious Literarian Award, and Angela Shanté, a finalist in the Young People’s Literature category. Their honors not only showcase their talent and dedication but also highlight the important role our organization plays in supporting independent publishing.

W. Paul Coates

Paul Coates on stage. (Photo credit: Beowulf Sheenan)

W. Paul Coates, founder of Black Classic Press and BCP Digital Printing, was honored for his extraordinary contributions to publishing:

“Since the 1970s, Coates has modeled what it means to be a community-focused independent publisher and tireless advocate for Black diasporic writers and books. The Foundation is proud to count him among the former members of our Board of Directors, and it is our great pleasure to recognize Coates’s tremendous contributions to the American literary community at the 75th National Book Awards Ceremony,” said David Steinberger, chair of the National Book Foundation Board of Directors.

Coates’ Black Classic Press, established in 1978, has been a champion of preserving and promoting obscure but important works by Black thinkers. His publishing house has played a significant role in ensuring that forgotten or marginalized voices are given their rightful place in the cultural and historical canon. Coates’ motivation for doing this is best expressed by words from his acceptable speech: “I obsessively curate those voices, especially the old, forgotten, radical, and less popular ones. The more obscure they are, the more important they are in my quest. Those voices are all Black classics to me. I publish them, knowing they are critical to fully understanding and making sense of the brightly colored mosaic that is American and world history.

“If those voices are not present, the result is a drab, washed-out monotone of history. And a narration where some awful person steps up and insists that slavery was a necessary experience that taught Black people many valuable skills. I can’t let that happen.”

As a previous board member of IBPA, Coates worked to support diversity in independent publishing. His efforts have inspired countless publishers to prioritize inclusivity, demonstrating that independent publishers serve as powerful platforms for underrepresented voices. For IBPA publishers, Coates’ recognition is a reminder of the power of mission-driven publishing to ensure our legacy and history are preserved for future generations.

At IBPA’s Publishing University 2023, I had the honor of moderating the “Legends of Black Independent Publishing Panel: Learning from the Past.” The panel included Coates along with Dr. Haki Madhubuti, founder of Third World Press; Kassahun Checole, president of Africa World Press; and Cheryl and Wade Hudson, co-founders of Just Us Books. This panel not only highlighted some of the most significant people in Black publishing in the 21st century, it demonstrated IPBA’s commitment to not just uplifting but celebrating diverse voices.

From left: W. Paul Coates, Troy D. Johnson, Brenda Greene, Roslyn Coates, and Walter Mosley. (Photo credit: Troy D. Johnson)

Angela Shanté

Angela Shanté’s debut young adult title, The Unboxing of a Black Girl, a collection of poetry and vignettes, was one of four finalists in the Young People’s Literature category. This is a remarkable accomplishment for her debut YA title. Before the National Book Award honor, Shanté was already an award-winning, best-selling children’s book author. She is perhaps best known for The Noisy Classroom series. She is the co-founder of Sunday Dinner Publishing, an indie publishing company and a professional advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in publishing.

In addition to her literary achievements, Shanté has contributed significantly to the publishing industry through her work with IBPA. As a member of IBPA and the DEI consultant for our organization, she has championed initiatives that empower independent publishers to embrace inclusivity. Her guidance has helped the IBPA board to expand their perspectives and continue working to ensure that diverse voices are represented in independent publishing.

Page Street Publishing, Shanté’s publisher, is also an IBPA member. This is particularly noteworthy because The Unboxing of a Black Girl was the only independently published title of the 10 longlisted in the Young People’s Literature category.

“As an indie press editor for an imprint less than 10 years old, it was an honor beyond my imagination to have one of our titles make it as a National Book Award finalist,” said Tamara Grasty, editor of The Unboxing of a Black Girl. “When this manuscript first came across my desk, I knew only that this book deserved to exist for Black girls and young readers everywhere. It makes me hopeful for the industry that such a personal book produced by an independent press could become so widely recognized.”

Both Coates and Shanté’s work and accomplishments are deeply linked to the mission of the IBPA, and our organization’s commitment to supporting independent publishers and championing diversity has played a crucial role in shaping their journeys.

The recognition of Coates and Shanté at the National Book Awards is also a testament to the impact of the IBPA’s mission. Their successes are examples of how independent publishing can uplift marginalized writers and enrich the books that are published for the benefit of all readers.

As IBPA members, we should take pride in seeing two of our own honored at the “Academy Awards” of the publishing industry. Their recognition is testimony to our leadership and service to the independent publishing community.

The 2024 National Book Awards honored five winners, 25 finalists, and 50 longlisted titles in Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature. Thirteen independent publishers were represented, with eight longlisted, seven finalists, and two winners.

Read Coates’s entire acceptance speech and watch a video of it at aalbc.com/paul.

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