American Libraries

Gleniece Robinson: We have had so much support from our community. We've got the Tarrant County Black Genealogical Society that is supporting us, we've got our National Cowboys of Color Museum that's supporting us. It could not have happened had it not been for the community and the staff coming together. It's just an extraordinary effort of how community works together.

Mary Monroe: Well, my titles are controversial because I wanted people to be interested in reading them and I know controversy attracts attention. My relationship with librarians is that had they not been there for me when I was developing myself as a writer, I wouldn't be here today.

Harry Robinson, Jr.: In terms of getting our piece of the pie, it's not that anyone is trying to keep us from getting it, it's just that we're not organized in a way that we can see our share of the pie. And I think that's what the caucus ought to be about: Organizing, having a structure where we can go out and do what we think is right for libraries. I'm talking about equity; that's one thing. With the other groups, I don't know if we have ever approached The Association for the Study of African American Life and History or the African Museums Association to talk about a joint conference. Let's have a joint conference every four years where three or four of us get together and talk about issues that are common to all of us.