Press KIT
Media Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Seattle, WA – May 31, 2025 – Neua Publishing House proudly announces the release of My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers, a groundbreaking book for children and readers of all ages, authored, illustrated, and edited by Cedric J Strickland.
Debuting on June 19, 2025, in honor of Juneteenth, this inspiring book is a showcase of the limitless career possibilities available to dreamers young and old everywhere. My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers celebrates opportunity and excellence across a wide range of fields – from Astronauts to Entrepreneurs, Dancers to Nurses, Pilots to Zoologists. Each letter of the alphabet introduces a new career path across a wide range of sectors, including careers in STEM, the arts, trades, and more, encouraging child and adult readers to dream big and explore their interests. This beautifully illustrated A to Z collection uplifts, educates, and empowers readers of all ages.
“What is a Black job? The answer is simple — every job is a Black job,” Strickland explains.
My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers, showcases representation and delivers a positive and powerful message, “every job is a Black job, and every job is something you can do too!”. By highlighting an array of careers through a culturally affirming lens, the book seeks to spark career conversations and instill confidence and belonging in youth and readers of every background.
Launching on Juneteenth, a day celebrating African American freedom and achievement, underscores the book’s mission and cultural significance. Media coverage, community readings, and events around the launch date are welcomed to amplify this celebration and the book’s release.
Press Summary
Key Information
Here is a summary of key information about My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers:
Title: My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers
Author/Illustrator: Cedric J. Strickland
Genre: Children’s Picture Book (Career Exploration / Inspirational)
Target Audience: Children ages 4–12; suitable for parents, educators, and diversity advocates
Format: Available in Hardcover (8.5 x 8.5 inches, full color) and eBook (digital format)
Length: 60 pages (Hardcover print length)
Publisher: Neua Publishing House (Imprint of Neua Holdings LLC) – Seattle, WA
Publication Date: June 19, 2025 ( Juneteenth)
ISBN (Hardcover): 979-8-9925144-2-1
ISBN (eBook): 979-8-9925144-3-8
Price: $24.99 (Hardcover) – $7.99 (eBook)
Availability: Nationwide & online – Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, etc.
Keywords/Themes: Careers, Diversity, Black Excellence, Inspiration, Education, A–Z alphabet book, Juneteenth, Children’s Nonfiction
Website: https://myblackjobthebook.com
Social Media: @myblackjobthebook (Instagram/Facebook/Threads), @myblackjobthebook (TikTok), @myblackjob (Pinterest), @myblackjobbook (Twitter/X).
Media professionals may freely use the above details. For additional information, please contact the publisher.
About the Book
My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers
My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers is an educational picture book that introduces readers to a variety of unique and exciting professions – one for each letter of the alphabet. The book is both a colorful career guide and a celebration of achievement and potential. Through lively illustrations and engaging descriptions, it showcases the limitless opportunities open to all, emphasizing that talent and passion know no bounds.
This collection highlights fields ranging from science and technology to arts and public service, showing readers the range of their potential to thrive in every arena. Each page pairs a career with an inspiring tagline or call to action, encouraging readers to imagine themselves in these roles and to dream big about their futures. Whether a child discovering astronauts and zoologists for the first time, or an adult curiously considering career pivots, My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers resonates as a tribute to ingenuity, talent, and perseverance.
At its core, My Black Job carries a culturally affirming message: every job is a Black job, and every dream is within reach. The book’s core purpose is to provide positive representation in children’s literature, affirming to youth and people of color that every career is available to them. By reading this book, people of all backgrounds learn that they too can aspire to any career they desire.
With its uplifting tone and informative content, My Black Job serves as both a storybook and a resource, perfect for storytimes, classroom discussions, and family reading. It’s a vibrant introduction to an array of exciting career paths, written in clear, approachable language that makes complex jobs accessible, kid friendly, and fun. Both educational and empowering, this book is a much-needed addition to today’s discussions around representation, children’s literature, and education.
Every job is a Black job – every dream is within reach.
About the Author
CEDRIC J STRICKLAND – AUTHOR, TECHNOLOGIST, AND EDUCATOR.
Cedric J. Strickland is the one man team behind My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers. Cedric is the author, editor, and illustrator of the series, the founder of Neua Holdings LLC and Neua Publishing House. Cedric’s commitment and versatility have enabled him to effectively drive all aspects of the delivery of the title, from marketing, branding, and sales, to website building and graphic design. Based in Seattle, Washington, Strickland is an entrepreneur, product leader, and educator who has devoted his career to empowering the world.
Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Cedric grew up with the influence of the city’s rich cultural history, dynamic political environment, and melting pot of people that call Atlanta home. Cedric’s higher education journey took him to the University of Notre Dame’s College of Engineering, where he earned a degree in Computer Science and studied a broad range of academic disciplines from sociology, to theology, to the Mendoza School of Business, thanks to the university’s commitment to holistic education.
Over the past 12 years, Cedric has led teams at the most successful and impactful companies in the world, Microsoft and Google, driving AI innovations, delivering product features, and building strategic vision for product and engineering teams across the globe. In addition to being a seasoned Product Manager, Cedric continues to demonstrate his expertise in technology and innovation through entrepreneurial endeavors, previously as a cofounder of Fablr, and currently as the CEO and CPO of Neua LLC.
Cedric’s strong commitment to community underscores his approach to leadership, and is shown by his previous tenure as an adjunct professor in the University of Washington’s CSS Graduate School, partnership with iUrbanTeen and the College Success Foundation, and ongoing leadership as a chapter lead of the Black Googler Network, reflecting his dedication to education and mentorship.
Strickland’s passion for education, empowerment, and social justice inspired him to create My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers. The book is a labor of love that combines his professional skillset, passions, and gift of storytelling with the world. As an tech executive, turned children’s author, Cedric brings a unique perspective to the project – one that underscores the importance of representation. His hope is to inspire young readers to pursue their dreams fearlessly, and showcase to adult readers the importance of representation.
Cedric J Strickland is available for interviews, school visits, and speaking engagements to discuss the book’s themes and his journey. Through My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers and related initiatives, he aims to give back to the community and spark conversations about inclusion, innovation, and opportunity in every field.
Key Features
Every Detail Matters
My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers is designed with the following key features.
A–Z Career Exploration: The book features career profiles for each letter of the alphabet – from Astronaut to Zoologist – highlighting fields in science, technology, arts, business, and more. Young readers get a broad survey of possible careers in an engaging, alphabetical format, which is perfect for repeated readings and discovery. Each letter’s section introduces a profession with an easy-to-understand description and an example of what that job entails, planting seeds of interest for every child.
Inspiring, Uplifting Tone: Every career entry includes an encouraging tagline or call to action that motivates children to dream big. For example, the entry for “Coder” (letter C) ends with the line “Be a coder and shape the future with technology!” – giving kids the sense that they can one day take on these roles and change the world. This positive encouragement runs throughout the book, making it not just informative but emotionally resonant. Each profession is presented not only as a job, but as an exciting opportunity waiting for the reader.
Educational Utility: My Black Job explains what each job involves in clear, kid-friendly language. Definitions and examples are woven into the narrative, helping build vocabulary and understanding of each profession’s importance. From how Astronauts explore the cosmos to how Bakers combine science and art in the kitchen, the text delivers facts in a fun way. Educators and parents will appreciate that the book can serve as a mini career encyclopedia, prompting further questions from curious kids. It’s a great tool for learning about science, history, arts, and community roles in one cohesive package.
Culturally Affirming Message: Importantly, the book uses inclusive language to empower children. It emphasizes that they can thrive in every field – “every job is a Black job, and every job is something you can do too!”. This refrain is echoed throughout the text to reinforce self- belief and counteract stereotypes. Young readers see characters who look like them excelling as Pilots, Engineers, Artists, Teachers, and more. The message boosts confidence and normalizes Black excellence across all careers. This feature makes My Black Job not just a fun book for all ages, but a positive identity book as well, instilling pride and wonder in its audience.
Vibrant Illustrations: Each career is accompanied by a bold, full-color illustration depicting a warm, melanin rich individual joyfully engaged in that role. The art style is modern, friendly, and eye-catching – characters are rendered in a 3D-inspired design with rich colors and dynamic scenes. These visuals grab children’s attention and help them visualize themselves in each job. The high-quality artwork makes the book appealing to even very young readers who will flip through just to admire the pictures.
Target Audience
Designed for EVERYONE
My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers is also uniquely suited for the following audiences.
Educators and Librarians: My Black Job is ideal for elementary school classrooms, libraries, and youth programs. Teachers can incorporate the book into career day activities, community helper lessons, or reading circles. The A–Z format and positive messaging make it a great fit for Black History Month, Juneteenth, and year-round lessons about representation, diversity, and careers.
Parents and Caregivers: This book makes a wonderful family read-aloud for children; younger and older audiences enjoy the story and illustrations too. It’s an engaging way for families to discuss the idea that “you can be anything you want when you grow up.” Caregivers and grandparents have also found it a meaningful gift, or coffee table addition, showcasing representation, inclusion, cultural pride, and encouragement.
Diversity & Inclusion Programs: The book is a great asset for youth organizations, mentoring programs, ERGs, and community groups focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. My Black Job: A Story of Black Careers can support workshops or events about career aspirations and representation. Nonprofits that promote literacy or support underrepresented youth can incorporate the book into curriculum, reading lists, or holiday gift drives, sending a message that representation matters.
Interview HIGHTLIGHTS
Transcript
To assist journalists and event hosts, we engaged our very own Cedric J Strickland in a written interview and shared the responses to shed light on the book’s purpose, the author, and the title’s broader themes. Interested in interviewing the team? Please reach out to the publisher!
-
Cedric’s Response
Last summer, there were some viral clips floating around where people were asking, “What’s a black job?” Seeing these clips, and the dialogue it created, I felt it was important to be a part of that conversation. I personally have had many roles, from working at a Burger King and a bookstore in college, to driving AI platforms at Microsoft, to becoming an adjunct professor at the University of Washington, to joining Google; it’s really always changing. Looking at my personal journey, and that of so many people that have influenced me along the way, I knew the answer, and sharing that with the world and the next generation was important.
-
Cedric’s Response
The range of careers showcased in the book is simply an honest look at the world. I have met so many incredible black professionals in so many fields, wide ranging in breadth, and so important in their own right. The message of the book is representation, showcasing belonging for readers that don’t always see themselves in literature, and careers that similarly are all too important, but may often otherwise be overlooked and understated.
-
Cedric’s Response
Honestly, this book was designed to be accessible to everyone, and I hope the book isn’t a challenging read for anyone. In fact, this book aims to normalize a very powerful yet simple message.
-
Cedric’s Response
Juneteenth marks the actual date where slavery is said to have ended in the United States, two years and some change after the emancipation proclamation. This date is the first day in the United States where the story of every job becoming a black job truly started.
-
Cedric’s Response
It’s really interesting the intersectionality of these experiences. My experiences at Microsoft, Google, and UW have afforded me a vantage point to travel the world and engage customers in every field imaginable. From a more personal lens, these experiences prepared me for the complexity of going from idea to a final product. Product, program management, and software engineering all were crucial skillsets required to be successful in the journey. In fact, using AI allowed me to scale agilely and effectively every step of the way, helping close the knowledge gap as I explored the new space of book publishing, printing, and distribution, and effectively acting an a multiplier in areas I was more familiar with such as web development, content editing, illustrating, and social media marketing. The book is not particularly designed to focus on STEM, however I hope my story does a bit to inspire the consideration for readers everywhere.
-
Cedric’s Response
Unapologetically. I hope ownership of this book brings a sense of pride. I hope that readers feel hopeful when reading the pages. I hope that the youth see themselves in the pages. I hope that a delightful craving for more books like My Black Job, starts to take hold. Life feels a bit different when we can see our potential, and when we can experience life as a melting pot.
-
Cedric’s Response:
In the book there’s a feature of, T is for Tailor. My mom was a seamstress, and at a very young age, she taught me to sew and tailor my clothes. I have memories of making my own jeans, fixing buttons, and being very unsure of how close to get to a sewing machine while it was running. This humble role literally put clothes on, not just my back, but yours, and everyone’s across the world. Big shout out to the tailors and seamstresses of the world!
-
Cedric’s Response
There will definitely be new volumes of My Black Job in the future! We already have a few in the works, and we hope to share more with the world soon, stay on the lookout.
Key Talking Points
In A Nutshell
This title can be summarized in the following talking points:
Empowering Representation: My Black Job carries the mantra “every job is a Black job,” emphasizing that Black individuals belong in every profession. This core message addresses the representation gap in children’s media and aims to instill confidence and pride in young Black readers.
Intersection of Education and Inspiration: The book is both a storybook and a practical educational tool. It introduces new vocabulary and concepts in an accessible way. The author leveraged his background as an educator and storyteller to aligns with early learning standards, while also making it exciting and aspirational.
Juneteenth Launch & Cultural Significance: Launching the book on Juneteenth is a deliberate choice. Juneteenth celebrates freedom and Black achievement, and My Black Job echoes those themes by focusing on achievements across industries.
Author’s Unique Journey: Cedric’s personal career path from tech product lead to professor to author is itself a testament to the book’s theme of broad possibilities. Interviewers can highlight how his experience in a broad range of spaces, including traditionally underrepresented spaces, informed the creation of the book.
Community and Impact: My Black Job is part of a larger movement to encourage representation in education and career aspirations. The project includes community initiatives such as the “Gift A Book” campaign where Neua Publishing hopes to donate books advance representation and literacy.