• Latest
  • Trending
  • All
  • News
  • Politics
  • Lifestyle
Jevon Bolden Faithfully Magazine

Interview: Book Editor and Agent Jevon Bolden on Pushing Christian Publishers on Diversity

October 20, 2020
black women group

‘Righteous and Ratchet’ Black Women of Faith Embraced on Jemele Hill’s ‘Sanctified’ Podcast

January 23, 2023
Martin Luther King Jr. Photo

How the Distortion of MLK’s Words Enables More, Not Less, Racial Division Within American Society

January 14, 2023
Shirley Chisholm book

Historian Connects Shirley Chisholm’s Life and Politics in New Biography

January 14, 2023
red apple fruit on four pyle books

Is White Supremacy a Bug or a Feature of Classical Christian Education?

January 14, 2023
bible gun Brazil

God and Guns Often Go Together In US History — This Course Examines Why

January 14, 2023
black news site

Kansas City Police Dismissed a Black News Site’s Reports of Missing Women. Then One Showed Up.

January 14, 2023
text

‘Thank You’ and a Look Back as We Look Forward to the New Year

December 31, 2022
Anthea Butler, Kristin Kobes Du Mez, and Jemar Tisby

Free eBook: Conversations on White Evangelical Racism and Christian Nationalism (Subscribers)

December 10, 2022
will smith in emancipation movie

News With Nicola: Is Will Smith’s Emancipation Movie Based on a True Story?

December 2, 2022
Pastor E. Dewey Smith’s House of Hope Atlanta Sues Over Alleged Black Church Scheme

Pastor E. Dewey Smith’s House of Hope Atlanta Sues Over Alleged Black Church Scheme

November 28, 2022
Bishop Jerome Stokes is seen in this 2020 YouTube screengrab.

Baltimore Pastor Bishop Jerome Stokes Attacked With Hammer During Sunday Service

November 28, 2022
Jonathan Majors stars as Jesse L. Brown in the movie Devotion

‘Devotion’ Movie Celebrates Successes and Sacrifices of Navy’s First Black Fighter Pilot

November 21, 2022
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Saturday, January 28, 2023
  • Login
  • Register
Faithfully Magazine
  • About
    • Staff and Advisors
    • Write for Us
    • Advertise
    • Give Via PayPal
  • Exclusives
  • Q&As
  • Inspiration
  • Subscribe
  • Shop Faithfully
No Result
View All Result
Faithfully Magazine
No Result
View All Result
Home Unwind Books

Interview: Book Editor and Agent Jevon Bolden on Pushing Christian Publishers on Diversity

by Nicola A. Menzie
October 20, 2020
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Jevon Bolden Faithfully Magazine
92
SHARES
ShareTweetPin It

Veteran publishing professional Jevon Bolden is on a mission to make more room for Christian authors of color in an industry that often overlooks their contributions. As the founder of Embolden Media Group and of the newly minted Christian Publishing Professionals of Color, the best-selling book editor, writer, and literary agent says her work “is an extension for me of living generously and keeping open house with my life.”

RELATED POSTS

‘Devotion’ Movie Celebrates Successes and Sacrifices of Navy’s First Black Fighter Pilot

Pastor Touré Roberts Honors ‘Kingdom Brother’ Chadwick Boseman in Emotional ‘Black Panther’ Post (Tribute Video)

Wondering How to Watch ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Online From Home?

Scholastic and Charisma House are just some of the clients she currently works with as a consultant while also representing several Christian Booksellers Association and American Booksellers Association authors.

In the following Q&A (conducted via email), Bolden talks further about her mission, industry trends, and where Christian publishing stands on diversity and inclusion.

You have an extensive background in publishing. What were some things you noticed as you moved through different companies and took on different roles—things that maybe didn’t sit well with you or you thought that could be done better?

In my initial experience, I think in Christian publishing it is taken for granted that we all think the same and come from the same context, so little work is done to get to know new hires and to help acclimate them into the culture as well as to really learn what they can uniquely contribute.

What does Christian publishing look like nowadays? Have there been improvements from previous years as it pertains to inclusivity and supporting diverse voices?

Believe it or not, according to hard data for publishing at large (Christian publishing does not currently do any measurement or research in this area), there has not been much change at all in the area of diversity despite the increase of conversation on the subject. It looks the same as it always has. What may be changing is the frequency of the conversations and a push to implement the strategies and ideas discussed.

Why did you choose to launch Christian Publishing Professionals of Color (CPPOC) this year? Was there anything timely or special about this particular moment that we are in?

I launched CPPOC in February 2020, before the pandemic and before George Floyd. What I felt was that who was in a better position than me to just set the table. While there are other organizations for publishing professionals of color such as Minorities in Publishing, Publishing Professionals of Color, Editors of Color, there is still part of the conversation lacking in those groups—the faith factor.

That it is inherently Christian to acknowledge, honor, and welcome the image of God in every person born on the earth. God is the author of diversity, and He cannot be left out of the conversation. CPPOC integrates God and His diverse kingdom culture as the context and common factor under which we as believing professionals of color can gather. This does seem to me to be a necessary and distinguishing feature of why Christian Publishing Professionals of Color needed to be founded.

Many companies have put out statements to show that they are attuned to the present justice struggle, and care about Black lives. Have you noticed similar efforts in Christian publishing?

Yes, I have actually. There’ve been some new hires and book acquisitions to support more inclusive publishing programs. There have been a handful of publishers who have reached out to me specifically to get to know what we are doing through Embolden Media Group, our content development services, our consultation services, and the authors we represent.

This kind of movement is not especially new. We have seen where there’ve been upticks in acquisitions of authors of color. We’ve seen the start of book imprints led by publishing professionals of color with a focus on publishing books by authors of color. Many were not sustainable due to the culture of publishing remaining [stagnant]. It will be nice to see more internal and missional changes among publishers so that the publishing and staffing decisions being made today will be sustainable from here on.

In an ideal publishing industry what would you like to see?

White people reading authors of color as easily as readers of color read White authors—that would be a dream. One more: a redo of what is considered canonical works so that the anthologies and reading list and curriculum that our kids are reading are much more diverse.

Any particular past accomplishments that you are just really proud of?

I am excited to have a full list of beautifully diverse authors who have really incredible messages for the world so much so that I am closing to queries for a season to tend to them. The B-side to this is that I am grateful in advance for the interest I know they will receive from publishers and readers that is so well deserved and that shine a light on the beauty of our Father in heaven, fulfilling the purpose for why I believe He has me here.


Help Keep Christian Media Diverse

In addition to partnering with advertisers, maintaining a subscription program, and exploring paid live events, we rely on the generosity of readers who see value in our work and in our mission. We invite you to join us, and keep walking with us, in our mission. Every amount, big or small, empowers us to stay the course. Here are a few ways you can join us:
  • Give via PayPal
  • Place an Ad
We are grateful for your support. Thank you!

Share This Post

Share via

Share This Post

  • Digg
  • Tumblr
  • Flipboard
  • SMS
More
  • Report
92
SHARES
ShareTweetPin It
Tags: DiversityFrom The MagazineJevon BoldenPublishingQ&As
Nicola A. Menzie

Nicola A. Menzie

Nicola A. Menzie a religion reporter whose bylines have appeared on the websites of the Religion News Service, The Christian Post, CBS News and Vibe magazine. Nicola is the Managing Editor at faithfullymagazine.com. You can find her on Twitter @namenzie. Email: nicola.menzie (at) faithfullymagazine.com.

Related Posts

Jonathan Majors stars as Jesse L. Brown in the movie Devotion

‘Devotion’ Movie Celebrates Successes and Sacrifices of Navy’s First Black Fighter Pilot

by FM Editors
November 21, 2022
0

...

A scene from the Black Panther: Wakanda Forever official trailer

Pastor Touré Roberts Honors ‘Kingdom Brother’ Chadwick Boseman in Emotional ‘Black Panther’ Post (Tribute Video)

by FM Editors
November 15, 2022
0

...

black panther wakanda forever disney

Wondering How to Watch ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ Online From Home?

by FM Editors
November 11, 2022
0

...

nazi germany

‘Hitler’s American Model’ Author on How the US Influenced Nazi Race Laws

by FM Editors
October 19, 2022
0

...

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Jesus and John the Baptist

Are Jesus and John the Baptist Cousins or Related in Anyway?

June 2, 2019
paige and christopher hilken family

Paige Hilken, Wife of North Coast Church Pastor Christopher Hilken, Dies by Suicide

August 2, 2021
stream movies laptop

Free Christian Movies: How and Where to Watch Free Christian Movies Online

March 15, 2021
White Christian Dean and Faculty Pose as Gangsters in Controversial Photo

White Christian Dean and Faculty Pose as Gangsters in Controversial Photo

16
study on evangelical churches finds some apply race tests on people of color seeking to belong

White Evangelical Churches Use ‘Race Tests’ on People of Color, Study Claims

3
depression

Why African Christians Should Rethink Depression

3
black women group

‘Righteous and Ratchet’ Black Women of Faith Embraced on Jemele Hill’s ‘Sanctified’ Podcast

January 23, 2023
Martin Luther King Jr. Photo

How the Distortion of MLK’s Words Enables More, Not Less, Racial Division Within American Society

January 14, 2023
Shirley Chisholm book

Historian Connects Shirley Chisholm’s Life and Politics in New Biography

January 14, 2023

Get the Newsletter

Loading

Listen to Exclusive Q&As on Faithfully Podcast

Faithfully Podcast · Faithfully Podcast Select
Advertisement
Advertisement
Mosaic Coffee
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Do Good. Obey God. Stay Woke.

Copyright © 2023 Faithfully Media, LLC. This website participates in affiliate programs.

No Result
View All Result
  • About
    • Staff and Advisors
    • Write for Us
    • Advertise
    • Give Via PayPal
  • Exclusives
  • Q&As
  • Inspiration
  • Subscribe
  • Shop Faithfully

Copyright © 2023 Faithfully Media, LLC. This website participates in affiliate programs.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Share via

Share This Post

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Email
  • WhatsApp
  • Copy Link
  • Tumblr
  • Digg
  • Flipboard
  • SMS

Add New Playlist

Add to Collection

  • Public collection title

  • Private collection title

No Collections

Here you'll find all collections you've created before.

Send this to a friend