As kidlit moves more online, we have to recognize that the marginalized community of creators are now in more danger. We meet audiences from our homes, but these attacks mean home no longer feels safe. It feels as if we've invited our attackers into our one safe place.

Given the rampant increase in racism with no way to protect ourselves completely, being online is taking a dramatic toll mentally & physically on all of us. It is not easy for us to put ourselves in public but we must to promote our books, to mentor our community, etc.

But now, every time we are asked to put ourselves online, it creates deep unease, fear, stress. It is especially difficult when we know that Black & IPOC women in particular, will always have targets on our backs. This toll is not just emotional, stress can kill people.

None of us know how to solve these problems. Racism and bias will never disappear overnight, no matter who much we might wish it away. The only way we are going to make any improvements is for all of us to have hard conversations on the state of "Hatred" in our world.

People get so upset about "call out" culture. And yes, it can get way out of line. But truth is, no matter how gently Black & IPOC point out systemic racism, someone will bash us for it, sometimes from within our own community. So that shouldn't stop us.

Change doesn't happen if we ignore it or are being kind to friends. Change only happens when we confront friends with their racism. I believe most people can change. But it won't happen if we don't call it out when we see it & hold them accountable to change.