Family Next Door
Montgomery Jones: Melissa Moon.
If Our Young Could See, Read, and Love Their Uniqueness A conversation with children’s literature activist Montgomery Jones By Anna Sutterer
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s a young child with Lupus and arthritis, Montgomery Jones of Denver discovered the power of books. Within their pages she could find an escape, a lesson, and a new character to try on. Now, she feels indebted to books and dedicates her time to studying them, then spreading their good word. Jones served as a literacy coordinator for City Year Denver, an AmeriCorps program, and has brought Project Lit Book Club, a grassroots organization increasing access to culturally relevant books, to Compass Academy and Denver Discovery School. She heads up a Well-Read Black Girl Club at Denver’s Second Star to the Right Bookstore.
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Colorado Parent | February 2021
“I think it’s just as important for kids with marginalized identities to see themselves [in books] as it is for kids that are white, cisgender, heterosexual, Christian—those kids that often see themselves in books—to read about different identities and understand that everyone is different, and learn about the beauties in the differences we all have,” says Jones. Jones spoke to Colorado Parent about the club, the importance of books, and ways for families to share a love of reading. Tell us about the book club. [Well-Read Black Girl Club] is intended for adults, but since it’s [hosted by] a children’s book-
store, we sometimes read young adult books. We have had a 12-year-old girl attend with her mom, all the way up to women in the 60s and 70s. At least half of the people that have come have been parents themselves, and many of them have discussed how a story relates back to their identity as a parent and raising a child in this current climate. Non-black allies are more than welcome to come. I think Well-Read Black Girl holds the publishing industry to accountability. We need these books. We need them published, and we will celebrate them. I just hope that any adults in a book club then spread the joy of reading about marginalized identities to children.
