The Brownies' Book: Challenge to the Selective Tradition in Children's Literature.

The Brownies' Book (1920-1921) was the first children's periodical created by Blacks for Black children. It was created by W. E. B. DuBois to meet seven objectives. The seven objectives were: (1) To make children realize that being colored is a normal beautiful thing. (2) To make them familiar with the history of the Negro race. (3) To make them know that other children have grown into beautiful, useful and famous persons. (4) To teach them a delicate code of honor and actions in their relations with white children. (5) To turn their little hurts and resentments into emulation, ambition and love of their homes and companions. (6) To point out the best amusements and joys and worth-while things of life. (7) To inspire them to prepare for definite occupations and duties with a broad spil.it of sacrifice. With these objectives the editor sougnt to challenge a selective tradition in children's literature that negatively depicted Afro-Americans and Afro-American culture.