Dr. Carlotta Penn is an educator, author, and daydreamer committed to advancing social justice, especially as it relates to educational access, experiences, and outcomes. She makes the case that Black children must see their cultures reflected in books, and that we must make more space for Black authors to write these stories. Despite the ongoing resistance of major publishers to fully embrace Black children’s books by Black authors, independent Black authors are filling the void. Penn shares how her journey to independent publishing is connected to the centuries-old tradition of Black freedom writing--a tradition as vital today as ever before.