The call for representation in literature for Black youth and children has been loud and clear, yet a significant gap remains in the understanding and acknowledgment of Black Language and its rich history within Black children’s and Young Adult (YA) literature. This study addresses two of my research questions:1. What ways might a book club that centers Black Language and Black children’s and YA literature affirm members’ linguistic and racial identities? 2. How do Black youth and their families experience a book club where they have an opportunity to learn about Black Language through Black children’s and YA literature? This study will center how I created a Black Language Book Club that centered Black children’s and young adult literature, specifically Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas through the lens of Black Language. Understanding that representation matters profoundly, it becomes imperative to discuss language within the context of Black children's and young adult literature. This study chronicles how the Black youth responded to learning about the rules and features of Black Language through Black children’s and YA literature.
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