The Carter G. Woodson Book Awards celebrate diversity in the realm of specific multicultural literature written for children and young adults. Named in honor of the African American social scientist, historian, and educator, the awards celebrate non-fiction trade books set in the United States centered on an ethnic group or ethnic groups and their particular issues, celebrations, or achievements. The National Council for the Social Studies sponsors the three awards-one for elementary, one for middle level, and one for secondary literature. Initially, the NCSS Committee for Racial and Social Justice, chaired by James Banks, only presented one award, in 1974, to honor, publicize, and promote literature written for youth that celebrated diversity. Because there was such a lack of specific multicultural literature in the 1970s available, and because very few organizations recognized or honored multicultural literature, it was hoped that the Carter G. Woodson Award would spur an interest in and a demand for such literature by readers, educators, writers, and publishers.

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