Rita Lorraine Hubbard, a Chattanooga native, is an influential children’s author recognised by The New York Journal of Books, the African American Literature Book Club, Lee & Low Books, and other smaller organizations as an encouragement to students all around the world; she inspires people who aren’t even the “intended audience” with her children’s books.
Hubbard was not always a full-time children’s book author but was formerly a special educator. With two published children’s books, five trade-published educational books, and an enriching history of work besides, it comes as no surprise that the Southern Lit Alliance would want Hubbard to be the next speaker for their South Bound Lecture Series.
On the Southern Lit Alliance website, the Chattanooga-stationed organization states its mission is “to deliver literary arts experiences that encourage people to read and to write” and its vision is to specifically establish “Chattanooga as a national model for engaging everyone to be passionate readers and writers.” The South Bound Lecture Series is just one way they accomplish these things. This event serves to bring attention to Southern authors, like recent presenter John Cribb and upcoming presenter Hubbard, who write about Southern history and issues.
What accomplishments give reason for such an invitation? Three of Hubbard’s published works focusing on black Southerners (“African Americans in Chattanooga: A History of Unsung Heroes,” a trade publication, and two children’s books, “The Oldest Student” and “Hammering for Freedom”) tell stories that inspire and are littered with morals.
“African Americans in Chattanooga: A History of Unsung Heroes” tells the often overlooked ways that African Americans built and shaped a great deal of Chattanooga’s history. An overview of the book on arcadiapublishing.com lists Chattanooga as the location of one of the first integrated police departments in the South and the hometown of the first African American to lead counsel on a Supreme Court case. Chattanooga obviously has a rich history that goes unnoticed, something Hubbard sought to remedy with her book.
Her published children’s books offer up history in a different way but a way that is still supplementary to the young mind. “The Oldest Student” tells the story of Mary Walker, who was born into slavery and freed by age 15 but never learned how to read, despite working numerous jobs in her life to provide for her family. This book illustrates Mary’s persistence in the face of adversity, her tenacious spirit, and her resolution to learn to read at the impressive age of 116.
“Hammering for Freedom,” Hubbard’s debut children’s book, tells the story of Bill Lewis, born into slavery in Chattanooga. From a young age, Lewis learned to blacksmith and became quite exceptional at his trade. This book tells his story of daring, cleverness, and determination—as he earned more and more money repairing and making tools, he was developing a plan to free his family.
These are just a few of Hubbard’s many works. She also has four other trade publications on a myriad of topics including playwriting, how to pursue careers in the food industry and healthcare, and how to get the most out of large online classes. On her website picturebookdepot.com, she reviews children’s books for parents to check out.
Hubbard has also won many awards for published and unpublished works alike and is the author of several unpublished children’s books focusing on challenges that children with disabilities face. A member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and African American Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, again there is little wonder as to why the Southern Lit Alliance has asked Hubbard to speak in their lecture series.
This event is free to the public, so register online at southernlitalliance.org and tune in on March 18 at 6pm on Zoom to hear more about her work.