Q&A with POSTCARDS FROM MALCOLM X Illustrator Keith Henry Brown

Please welcome illustrator Keith Henry Brown! He is the illustrator of Postcards from Malcolm X, the story of how Yuri Kochiyama became a Civil Rights activist and then a human rights activist, thanks to the influence of her mentor and teacher, Malcolm X. Their friendship showcases and models the power of intersectional activism.

Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Human Rights Activist by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Keith Henry Brown

This is the story of cross-racial activism between Yuri Kochiyama and Malcolm X. For Yuri, she was already an activist who could rally a community towards change before she met him, but he helped her understand the power structures that created an unjust system. They knew each other for just 16 months, but she credits her political awakening to him. He became first a mentor and teacher. The 11 postcards he sent her from his second trip abroad are a testament to their friendship. From Yuri’s eyes, he was a gifted teacher who could explain complicated ideas in a way everyone could understand. In today’s fractured times, their story of intersectional activism is a powerful idea that is more relevant than ever, and a blueprint for working together towards a common cause. [picture book biography, ages 7 and up] Pre-order now. Releases October 13, 2026

More than anything, I hope readers come away with a sense that people from different backgrounds can find common purpose. — Keith Henry Brown on Postcards from Malcolm X

Q1: What made you decide to become a children’s book illustrator?

It wasn’t really the plan. Right out of high school, I worked briefly as a comic book artist, but I ended up building a career as a graphic designer, art director, and illustrator.

The turning point came when I was designing jazz album covers for Christian McBride, the 11-time Grammy Award-winning bassist and composer. A publisher asked if I could illustrate an entire children’s book in that same style—Birth of the Cool: How Miles Davis Found His Sound. The book received a starred Kirkus review, and after that, publishers started reaching out with more projects. That’s really how I became a children’s book illustrator.

Q2: You are in high demand! We had to wait three years until you were available to illustrate Postcards From Malcolm X. What made you decide to take this project?

What drew me to the project was the story itself. Even before I read the manuscript, I was fascinated by the friendship between Malcolm X and Yuri Kochiyama. I hadn’t seen that story told before, and I loved the idea of these two activists from different communities finding common purpose.

It also resonated with me personally. My brother was involved with the Basement Workshop in the 1970s, an Asian American artists’ collective in Chinatown, when I was growing up. Seeing those kinds of cross-cultural connections made a lasting impression on me.

the Basement Workshop in NYC Chinatown — Basement Workshop emerged in 1969 as the first Asian-American political and arts organization in New York City.

The delay wasn’t because I wasn’t interested—or because I was in such high demand. It was simply a scheduling issue. I was finishing another major project, the 200-plus-page graphic novel Pushing Hope, and I wanted to give Postcards From Malcolm X the time and attention it deserved.

Q3: What is your favorite spread in Postcards From Malcolm X and why?

One of my favorite spreads is the one where Malcolm appears to be walking across time. On the left, he’s younger, clean-shaven, and wearing a blue suit. On the right, he’s older, bearded, and dressed in red, as if he’s been walking and evolving over the years. Surrounding him are reproductions of the actual postcards.

I love that spread because it came very close to what I had envisioned. The watercolor effects worked the way I hoped, and the symbolism feels strong. I’m a very self-critical artist, and I rarely feel I’ve fully achieved what I see in my imagination, but that illustration came closer than most. It’s the one I find myself returning to whenever I look through the book.

Q4: What do you want readers to take away from Postcards From Malcolm X as the illustrator? Any Easter eggs?

For me, the heart of the book is the connection between different communities. I love that Yuri Kochiyama chose to move to Harlem because she believed it was an important place for her activism and became such a genuine part of the community. I think many people don’t realize how deeply connected Asian American and Black activists have been throughout history.

One of my favorite spreads is the one where Malcolm and Yuri are standing in front of her apartment building. I actually visited the location while researching the book. I had imagined it would be a classic Harlem brownstone, but it turned out to be part of a housing project. I found it moving that she chose to live there and build authentic relationships with her neighbors and the surrounding community.

If there’s an Easter egg, it’s that many of the settings are based on real places I visited while researching the book. More than anything, I hope readers come away with a sense that people from different backgrounds can find common purpose. I’ve always believed that people of different races and cultures can be friends, collaborators, and family. At a time when it sometimes feels like we’re pulling apart, I hope this story reminds readers of what’s possible when we come together.

Q5: What’s next for you (that you can reveal)?

The book I’m working on now is Pullman Porters Deliver, written by Lea Lyon. It tells the story of the Pullman porters and their fight to organize a union. I actually had a relative who was a Pullman porter, so the project has a personal connection for me.

It’s a fascinating and important part of American history that many people don’t know about. Even while researching the book, I found myself learning things I’d never heard before. It’s a beautifully written manuscript, and I’m excited to help bring this story to life with Abrams.

Thank you for answering my questions, Keith Henry Brown! Our book, Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Human Rights Activist, comes out on October 13, 2026. We hope you enjoy it!

Native New Yorker Keith Henry Brown is an award-winning author, illustrator, designer, and creative director whose career spans comics, publishing, children’s books, and the visual arts. He began as a comics illustrator before expanding into painting and editorial illustration, with his work appearing in books, magazines, and galleries.

A lifelong jazz enthusiast, Brown later combined his passion for music and design as Creative Director for Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has designed album covers, publications, and promotional materials for celebrated musicians and cultural organizations, and has created award-winning work for leading advertising agencies, including Grey Advertising.

His acclaimed picture books include Birth of the Cool and Because of You, John Lewis, both recognized with starred reviews and honors for their powerful storytelling and expressive artwork. His work often explores themes of history, music, and social justice through richly painted illustrations.

He lives and works in Brooklyn, where he continues to paint, write, and illustrate books inspired by history, music, and the enduring power of storytelling.

p.s. Related posts:

Postcards from Malcolm X picture book trailer!

Geography Game featuring WWII Internment Sites and Children’s Books

86 Children’s Books for Young Activists

162 Japanese American Books for Kids & Teens

40 Japanese Internment Books for Kids & My Family’s Story

To examine any book more closely at Amazon, please click on image of book.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.

Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.

My books:

Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación

⭐ Starred review from Kirkus
⭐ Starred review from Publishers Weekly
⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal
Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring 2026

Free and downloadable guide:

Barbed Wire Between Us Teacher’s Guide

Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Postcards from Malcolm X: How Yuri Kochiyama Became a Human Rights Activist

Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

Fortune Cookies for Everyone! (Smithsonian): The Surprising Story of the Tasty Treat We Love to Eat

California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)

The Traveling Taco: The Amazing and Surprising Journey of Many of Your Favorite Foods

California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025

Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me

We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court

ALSC Notable Children’s Book
2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026-27
Junior Library Guild Gold Selection