Today we’d like to introduce you to Artika Tyner.
Hi Artika, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
I am committed to a growing future. One book at a time- one child at a time. This is personal and important to me because as a civil rights attorney, many of my clients learned how to read while in prison. This is unacceptable but somehow we created a RULE OF 4: 1 in 4 American children are not reading at grade level by 4th grade.
If you are not reading at grade level by 4th grade, you are 4 times more likely to drop out of school and here’s the connection, you are also 3 and a half times more likely to be arrested during your lifetime. This is UNACCEPTABLE.
Yet, this is an opportunity for change where we can create new pipelines for the future and work to end mass incarceration.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The journey of building our business, Planting People Growing Justice Press and Bookstore, has not been a smooth road. We have been met with roadblocks and impasses yet we have met these challenges with unwavering tenacity and courage.
When I first expressed interest in publishing diverse books, I was ridiculed and mocked. National publishers made statements like: “Black people do not read.” “Even if they did, they do not have the disposable income to purchase books.” This rejection was my fuel for success. I was determined to make diverse books more accessible to everyone.
I also sought to work with diverse authors and train the next generation of publishing professionals. Through our efforts, PPGJ Books is forging a future for BIPOC authors and their books. Fast forward to today, we have revolutionized the publishing industry and education sector. We published diverse books while also raising awareness about the importance of literacy and taking strategic action to end America’s reading crisis.
As you know, we’re big fans of Planting People Growing Justice Press and Bookstore. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are known for publishing, promoting, and distributing books that encourage and empower Black children to find joy in reading.
Our business serves as a source of inspiration for others to build culturally specific and community-centric businesses that address social justice challenges in real-time. We can serve as the innovators, disruptors, and leaders that we have been waiting for.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up.
My favorite childhood memory was spending time with my Grandma Nellie. She nurtured my passion for learning. She filled her den with books for me to read. Every Saturday, she would take me to the thrift store where I would find new treasures- books.
My grandma always reminded me to broaden my horizons through reading and learning. She admonished me to never work with my hands but to always work with my mind. This was her way of saying that I would be the first in our family to attend college. Still today, I add new books to home libraries weekly and have helped to build libraries around the world.
My grandma prepared me to become a lifelong Philomath, a lover of learning.
Pricing:
- $9.95 (Justice Makes a Difference)
- $9.95 (Gumbo Joy)
- $9.95 (Amazing Africa: A to Z)
- $34.95 (The Inclusive Leader)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ppgjbooks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ppgjbooks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ppgjbooks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artikatyner/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCijRTk5jKL5SSAijesi8Byw
