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The power of Black girl magic can help heal a nation. Claudia Walker is choosing to be a part of that mission to help Black students strive in education.
In 2023, Target featured “The ABCs of Black Wall Street” and “The ABCs of HBCUs” in its Black History Month Collection.
Walker shared her experience with the Black Wall Street Times.
“We scheduled an introductory call and started preparing for an early 2023 rollout. Coincidentally, I visited Target during a long road trip a few months prior and placed copies of my books on their shelves,” Claudia said, “I even took photos and videos because I believed that one day, my books would be sold at Target. The odds weren’t in my favor as a self-published author, but I knew God had given me a clear vision.”
Where it all started
Walker was born and raised in Oakland, California, and immersed in Black culture, activism, and art as a child. Therefore, she grew up surrounded by Black education, innovation, and community. She recalls the Black Panther Party’s Free Breakfast for School Children Program, En’Vogue, and MC Hammer being anchors in Oakland.
During her 18 years of working in education, Walker held positions as a teacher, principal, educational consultant, and the Director of Internships and Early College Programs for the Oakland Unified School District.
Walker still wanted to inspire children nationwide. She knew it was time to expand her endeavors into writing. This then led her to create an HBCU Prep School. The family-owned multimedia education company teaches and focuses on Black studies and Black history through holistic learning techniques.
The HBCU Prep School offers interactive activities and educational products where families and children of all ages can learn together.
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In honor of the Greenwood District
Subsequently, Walker self-published her first book, “The ABCs of HBCUs,” and in 2022, “The ABCs of Black Wall Street.”
Walker expressed, “I wanted to create a book that would finally bring the story of this amazing community to life for young readers. Most importantly, I wanted to center the story around joy, reverence, and celebration of everything the Greenwood community built together.”
“The ABCs of Black Wall Street” brightly explores the historically Black businesses, individuals, and figures in the historic Greenwood District of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Walker wanted to focus on the positive experiences in the Greenwood District that would inspire children everywhere.
She said, “I chose to spotlight trailblazers like John and Loula Williams, O.W. Gurley, Dr. Andrew Jackson, Osborne Monroe, and Solomon Sir Jones. My mission was simple: inspire children by honoring the trailblazers who served their communities. By showing kids the ingenious spirit and perseverance that allowed Greenwood to flourish, I believe they’ll be empowered to carry on this legacy.”
During Black Children’s Book Week, Essence staff picked, “The ABCs of Black Wall Street” as one of their “Favorite Children’s Books by Black Authors,” and the Black Caucus of the Library American Association listed it on its “The Best of the Best” list.
Black children deserve an education with freedom
Walker’s mission is to help decolonize the education system for Black students with the HBCU Prep School.
Despite book censorship and the erasure of extensive Black history in education, parents can teach their children with alternative learning methods.
She said, “We’re providing empowering educational products for Black youth that the mainstream children’s publishing market has historically overlooked.”
Walker co-wrote her latest book, “The ABCs of Cybersecurity” with her daughter. The book informs children about the importance of digital safety and security in a world filled with technology.
The HBCU Prep School’s future is promising. Walker said, “We plan to launch a new book imprint featuring the biographies of some incredible trailblazers. There are so many stories of extraordinarily courageous and talented people whose stories and contributions have been overlooked. Those are the stories that we’re most excited to tell.”