Coretta Scott King Award


The Coretta Scott King Award is an annual award presented by the Ethnic & Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, part of the American Library Association. Named for Coretta Scott King, wife of Martin Luther King, Jr., this award recognizes outstanding books for young adults and children by African Americans that reflect the African-American experience. Awards are given both to authors and to illustrators.
The first author award was given in 1970. In 1974, the award was expanded to honor illustrators as well as authors. Starting in 1978, runner-up Author Honor Books have been recognized. Recognition of runner-up Illustrator Honor Books began in 1981.
In addition, the Coretta Scott King Awards committee has given the Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, starting in 2010, and beginning in 1996 an occasional John Steptoe Award for New Talent.
Like the Newbery Medal and Caldecott Medal, the Coretta Scott King Awards have the potential to be used in classroom teaching and projects.

History

The idea for the Coretta Scott King Award originated with librarian Glyndon Flynt Greer. At a meeting of the American Library Association in Atlantic City in 1969, Greer, librarian Mabel McKissick and publisher John M. Carroll, lamented the lack of recognition for minority writers. No person of color had won either the Newbery or Caldecott Medals at that time. Before the conference ended, a group of African American librarians had formed to promote the creation of a new award. Among them were Augusta Braxton Baker, Charlemae Hill Rollins, and Virginia Lacy Jones. The award's name was intentionally chosen to honor recently assassinated Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King. The name also commemorates the life of Dr. King and honors the dedication Coretta Scott King had to making the world a place that welcomes all people.
It was particularly fitting that the first Coretta Scott King Award was presented to Lillie Patterson, a school librarian from New Jersey, for her elementary level biography Martin Luther King, Jr.: Man of Peace. The award's first presentation was held during the 1970 New Jersey Library Association conference in Atlantic City, and its second at the corresponding conference in 1971. Early sponsors of the award included the New Jersey Library Association, and the library councils of the Englewood Middle School and Dwight Morrow High School.
With support from Roger McDonough, the third annual Coretta Scott King Award was presented during the American Library Association's 1972 Annual Conference in Chicago, Illinois. However, the award was not yet officially recognized by the ALA. As of 1972, Greer moved to Atlanta, Georgia. The award was briefly sponsored by the School of Library and Information Studies at Atlanta University. An awards committee and an advisory board of mostly local librarians were formed, co-chaired by Ella Gaines Yates.
In 1974, the award was expanded to honor illustrators as well as authors. The first illustrator to receive the award was George Ford, for his work in illustrating Ray Charles by Sharon Bell Mathis. Mathis won the author award for 1974.
Starting in 1978, runner-ups to the Author award have been recognized as Honor Books. As of 1981, runner-ups to the Illustrator award have been recognized as Honor Books.
In 1979, the awards committee and the advisory board merged, forming the Coretta Scott King Award Task Force. With support from E. J. Josey, the new committee became part of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association. Greer served as its first chair until her death on August 24, 1980. Harriet Brown then became acting chair.
Brown was succeeded by Effie Lee Morris in 1981.
Under Morris' leadership, the Coretta Scott King Awards were officially recognized by the executive board of the ALA. Morris wrote formal selection criteria for the awards to meet ALA's standards, and the Coretta Scott King Awards were accepted as an ALA unit award in 1982, the twelfth year that they had been given.
Winning books receive a medal; honor books receive a certificate.
Winning and honor books are identified by the presence on their covers of the Coretta Scott King Award Seal. The original seal was designed by artist Lev Mills in 1974, with a bronze seal on winning books and a pewter seal on honor books. In a later revision of the seal, the colors changed to bronze and black for winners, and pewter and black for honors.
The award eventually changed its ALA affiliation from the SRRT to the Ethnic and Multicultural Information Exchange Round Table, which had become a closer match for its activities.
Dr. Henrietta M. Smith has edited four volumes, published by the American Library Association, that provide a history of the award.

Recipients

YearWorkRecipientTitleCitation
2020authorJerry CraftNew KidWinner
2020authorJunauda PetrusThe Stars and the Blackness Between ThemHonor
2020authorKwame MbaliaTristan Strong Punches a Hole in the SkyHonor
2020authorJason Reynolds'Honor
2020illustratorKadir NelsonThe UndefeatedWinner
2020illustratorJames RansomeThe BellHonor
2020illustratorAshley BryanInfinite Hope: A Black Artist's Journey from World War II to PeaceHonor
2020illustratorVashti HarrisonSulweHonor
2019authorWinner
2019authorFinding LangstonHonor
2019authorHonor
2019authorHonor
2019illustratorWinner
2019illustratorHidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space RaceHonor
2019illustratorLet the Children MarchHonor
2019illustratorHonor
2018authorPiecing Me TogetherWinner
2018author'Honor
2018authorLong Way DownHonor
2018authorHonor
2018illustratorOut of Wonder: Poems Celebrating PoetsWinner
2018illustrator'Honor
2018illustrator'Honor
2017author and March: Book ThreeWinner
2017authorAs Brave as YouHonor
2017author'Honor
2017illustrator'Winner
2017illustratorFreedom in Congo SquareHonor
2017illustrator'Honor
2017illustratorIn Plain SightHonor
2016authorGone Crazy in AlabamaWinner
2016author and All American BoysHonor
2016authorThe Boy in the Black SuitHonor
2016author and 'Honor
2016illustratorTrombone ShortyWinner
2016illustratorHonor
2016illustratorLast Stop on Market StreetHonor
2015authorBrown Girl DreamingWinner
2015authorHonor
2015authorHow I Discovered PoetryHonor
2015authorHow It Went DownHonor
2015illustratorFirebirdWinner
2015illustrator'Honor
2015illustratorLittle Melba and Her Big TromboneHonor
2014authorP.S. Be ElevenWinner
2014authorMarch: Book OneHonor
2014authorDarius & TwigHonor
2014authorWords with WingsHonor
2014illustrator'Winner
2014illustratorNelson MandelaHonor
2013author'Winner
2013authorHonor
2013author'Honor
2013illustratorI, Too, Am AmericaWinner
2013illustratorEllen's BroomHonor
2013illustratorH.O.R.S.E.Honor
2013illustratorI Have a Dream: Martin Luther King, Jr.Honor
2012author'Winner
2012authorHonor
2012authorNever ForgottenHonor
2012illustrator'Winner
2012illustrator'Honor
2011authorOne Crazy SummerWinner
2011authorLockdownHonor
2011authorNinth WardHonor
2011author'Honor
2011illustrator'Winner
2011illustrator'Honor
2010authorBad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. MarshalWinner
2010authorMare's WarHonor
2010illustratorMy PeopleWinner
2010illustratorHonor
2009author'Winner
2009authorKeeping the Night WatchHonor
2009authorHonor
2009authorBecoming Billie HolidayHonor
2009illustratorWinner
2009illustrator'Honor
2009illustratorHonor
2009illustratorBefore John Was a Jazz GiantHonor
2008authorElijah of BuxtonWinner
2008authorNovember BluesHonor
2008authorTwelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad AliHonor
2008illustrator'Winner
2008illustratorHonor
2008illustratorJazz On A Saturday NightHonor
2007authorCopper SunWinner
2007author'Honor
2007illustrator'Winner
2007illustratorJazzHonor
2007illustrator'Honor
2006authorDay of Tears: A Novel in DialogueWinner
2006authorMaritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American GirlHonor
2006authorDark SonsHonor
2006authorHonor
2006illustratorRosaWinner
2006illustratorBrothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of SudanHonor
2005authorRemember: The Journey to School IntegrationWinner
2005authorHonor
2005authorWho Am I without Him?: Short Stories about Girls and the Boys in Their LivesHonor
2005authorFortune's Bones: The Manumission RequiemHonor
2005illustratorEllington Was Not a StreetWinner
2005illustratorGod Bless the ChildHonor
2005illustratorHonor
2004authorWinner
2004author'Honor
2004authorHonor
2004illustratorBeautiful BlackbirdWinner
2004illustratorAlmost to FreedomHonor
2004illustratorThunder RoseHonor
2003illustratorRap a Tap Tap: Here's BojanglesHonor
2003authorBronx MasqueradeWinner
2003authorHonor
2003authorTalkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth ColemanHonor
2003illustratorTalkin' About Bessie: The Story of Aviator Elizabeth ColemanWinner
2003illustratorVisiting LangstonHonor
2002authorWinner
2002authorMoney-HungryHonor
2002authorCarver: A Life in PoemsHonor
2002illustratorGoin' Someplace SpecialWinner
2002illustratorMartin's Big WordsHonor
2001authorMiracle's BoysWinner
2001authorLet It Shine! Stories of Black Women Freedom FightersHonor
2001illustratorUptownWinner
2001illustratorFreedom RiverHonor
2001illustratorOnly Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner TruthHonor
2001illustratorVirgie Goes to School with Us BoysHonor
2000authorBud, Not BuddyWinner
2000authorFrancieHonor
2000author'Honor
2000authorMonsterHonor
2000illustratorIn the Time of the DrumsWinner
2000illustratorMy Rows and Piles of CoinsHonor
2000illustratorBlack CatHonor
1999authorHeavenWinner
1999authorJazmin's NotebookHonor
1999authorBreaking Ground, Breaking Silence: The Story of New York's African Burial GroundHonor
1999authorHonor
1999illustratorI See the RhythmWinner
1999illustratorI Have Heard of a LandHonor
1999illustratorHonor
1999illustrator'Honor
1998authorForged By FireWinner
1998authorBayard Rustin: Behind the Scenes of the Civil Rights MovementHonor
1998author'Honor
1998illustratorIn Daddy's Arms I am Tall: African Americans Celebrating FathersWinner
1998illustratorAshley Bryan's ABC of African American PoetryHonor
1998illustratorHarlemHonor
1998illustratorHonor
1997authorSlamWinner
1997authorRebels Against Slavery: American Slave RevoltsHonor
1997illustrator'Winner
1997illustratorHonor
1997illustratorRunning the Road to ABCHonor
1997illustratorNeeny Coming, Neeny GoingHonor
1996authorHer Stories: African American Folktales, Fairy Tales, and True TalesWinner
1996authorHonor
1996authorLike Sisters on the HomefrontHonor
1996authorFrom the Notebooks of Melanin SunHonor
1996illustratorWinner
1996illustratorHer StoriesHonor
1996illustratorThe Faithful FriendHonor
1995authorChristmas in the Big House, Christmas in the QuartersWinner
1995authorHonor
1995authorI Hadn't Meant to Tell You ThisHonor
1995author'Honor
1995illustratorWinner
1995illustratorHonor
1995illustratorMeet Danitra BrownHonor
1994authorToning the SweepWinner
1994authorBrown Honey in Broomwheat TeaHonor
1994authorMalcolm X: By Any Means NecessaryHonor
1994illustratorSoul Looks Back in WonderWinner
1994illustratorBrown Honey in Broom Wheat TeaHonor
1994illustratorUncle Jed's BarbershopHonor
1993authorWinner
1993authorSojourner Truth: Ain't I a Woman?Honor
1993authorSomewhere in the DarknessHonor
1993authorMississippi ChallengeHonor
1993illustratorWinner
1993illustratorLittle Eight JohnHonor
1993illustratorSukey and the MermaidHonor
1993illustratorWorking CottonHonor
1992authorNow is Your Time: The African American Struggle for FreedomWinner
1992authorNight on Neighborhood StreetHonor
1992illustratorTar BeachWinner
1992illustratorAll Night, All Day: A Child's First Book of African American SpiritualsHonor
1992illustratorNight on Neighborhood StreetHonor
1991authorWinner
1991authorBlack Dance in AmericaHonor
1991authorWhen I Am Old with YouHonor
1991illustratorAidaWinner
1990authorWinner
1990authorNathaniel TalkingHonor
1990authorHonor
1990authorMartin Luther King, Jr., and the Freedom MovementHonor
1990illustratorNathaniel TalkingWinner
1990illustrator'Honor
1989authorFallen AngelsWinner
1989authorHonor
1989authorAnthony Burns: The Defeat and Triumph of a Fugitive SlaveHonor
1989illustratorMirandy and Brother WindWinner
1989illustratorUnder the Sunday TreeHonor
1989illustratorStorm in the NightHonor
1988authorWinner
1988authorHonor
1988authorHonor
1988illustratorMufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African TaleWinner
1988illustratorWhat a Morning! The Christmas Story in Black SpiritualsHonor
1988illustratorHonor
1987authorJustin and the Best Biscuits in the WorldWinner
1987authorLion and the Ostrich Chicks and Other African Folk TalesHonor
1987authorWhich Way FreedomHonor
1987illustratorHalf a Moon and One Whole StarWinner
1987illustratorLion and the Ostrich Chicks and Other African Folk TalesHonor
1987illustratorC.L.O.U.D.S.Honor
1986authorWinner
1986authorJunius Over FarHonor
1986authorTrouble's ChildHonor
1986illustratorWinner
1986illustratorHonor
1985authorMotown and DidiWinner
1985authorCircle of GoldHonor
1985authorHonor
1985illustrator -
1984authorEverett Anderson's GoodbyeWinner
1984authorHonor
1984authorLena HorneHonor
1984authorBright ShadowHonor
1984authorBecause We AreHonor
1984authorSpecial
1984illustratorMy Mama Needs MeWinner
1983authorSweet Whispers, Brother RushWinner
1983authorThis Strange New FeelingHonor
1983illustratorBlack ChildWinner
1983illustratorAll the Colors of the RaceHonor
1983illustratorI'm Going to Sing: Black American SpiritualsHonor
1983illustratorJust Us WomenHonor
1982authorLet the Circle Be UnbrokenWinner
1982authorRainbow JordanHonor
1982authorLou In the LimelightHonor
1982authorMary: An AutobiographyHonor
1982illustratorMother Crocodile: An Uncle Amadou Tale from SenegalWinner
1982illustratorDaydreamersHonor
1981authorThis LifeWinner
1981authorDon't Explain: A Song of Billie HolidayHonor
1981illustratorBeat the Story Drum, Pum-PumWinner
1981illustratorGrandmama's JoyHonor
1981illustratorCount on Your Fingers African StyleHonor
1980authorWinner
1980authorMovin' UpHonor
1980author'Honor
1980authorAndrew Young: Young Man with a MissionHonor
1980authorJames Van Der Zee: The Picture Takin' ManHonor
1980authorLet the Lion Eat StrawHonor
1980illustratorCornrowsWinner
1979authorEscape to FreedomWinner
1979authorBenjamin BannekerHonor
1979authorI Have a Sister, My Sister is DeafHonor
1979authorJustice and Her BrothersHonor
1979authorSkates of Uncle RichardHonor
1979illustratorSomething on My MindWinner
1978authorAfrica DreamWinner
1978authorHonor
1978authorMarvin and TigeHonor
1978authorMary McCleod BethuneHonor
1978authorBarbara JordanHonor
1978authorCoretta Scott KingHonor
1978authorPortia: The Life of Portia Washington Pittman, the Daughter of Booker T. WashingtonHonor
1978illustratorAfrica DreamWinner
1977authorWinner
1977authorEverett Anderson's FriendHonor
1977authorRoll of Thunder, Hear my CryHonor
1977authorQuiz Book on Black AmericaHonor
1977illustrator -
1976authorDuey's TaleWinner
1976authorJulius K. Nyerere: Teacher of AfricaHonor
1976authorPaul RobesonHonor
1976authorFast Sam, Cool Clyde, and StuffHonor
1976authorSong of the TreesHonor
1976illustrator -
1975authorWinner
1975illustrator -
1974authorRay CharlesWinner
1974authorHonor
1974authorDon't You Remember?Honor
1974authorMs. Africa: Profiles of Modern African WomenHonor
1974authorGuest in the Promise LandHonor
1974authorMukasaHonor
1974illustratorRay CharlesWinner
1973authorI Never Had It Made: An Autobiography of Jackie RobinsonWinner
1972author17 Black ArtistsWinner
1971authorBlack Troubadour: Langston HughesWinner
1971authorI Know Why the Caged Bird SingsHonor
1971authorUnbought and UnbossedHonor
1971authorI Am a Black WomanHonor
1971authorEvery Man Heart Lay DownHonor
1971authorHonor
1971authorBlack MeansHonor
1971authorEbony Book of Black AchievementHonor
1971authorMary Jo's GrandmotherHonor
1970authorMartin Luther King, Jr.: Man of PeaceWinner

Steptoe Award for New Talent

From 1996 the Coretta Scott King Awards program includes the occasional John Steptoe Award for New Talent. Through 2012, seventeen new talents have been recognized in 18 years.
From 2010 the Coretta Scott King Awards include the Coretta Scott King–Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, or Virginia Hamilton Award. It is presented to creators and practitioners alternately: in even years, to an African American writer or illustrator of books for children or young adults; in odd years, to a practitioner for "active engagement with youth using award-winning African American literature for children and/or young adults, via implementation of reading and reading related activities/programs."