New York’s House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and former Congressmember Jamaal Bowman have added the role of published author to their lists of accomplishments. Both recently wrote books geared toward inspiring a younger generation of voters.
Jeffries is the first Black person to hold his position, and considered the highest-level Democrat in the nation. His new book, “The ABCs of Democracy,” comes from the first floor speech he delivered to Congress after the seemingly endless cycle of House Republicans not confirming former Majority Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Capitol Hill in 2023. Once the vote for McCarthy was finalized, Jeffries took to the podium to offer congratulations and poetically affirm the values of democracy, one letter of the alphabet at a time.
At a promotional event for his book at Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, Jeffries spoke about his upbringing in Crown Heights, becoming a lawyer, and initially getting involved with community work during the 2000 census count.
The Center for Black Literature and the Medgar Evers College Cultural Committee co-sponsored the event. It was also hosted by L. Joy Williams of the Brooklyn National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and Lurie Daniel Favors, executive director of the Center for Law & Social Justice at Medgar Evers College and a SiriusXM host.
During the Q&A portion, Jeffries discussed the realities of preserving the central values of democracy and pushing back whenever it’s systematically being attacked; restoring the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and protecting the Civil Rights Act of 1964; analyzing how Republicans led President Donald Trump to another term in office and the rise of white nationalism on nontraditional media platforms; and developing new strategies going into the midterm elections for the Senate and House in 2026.
“Diversity, equity, and inclusion are American values,” said Jeffries. “The motto of this country is E pluribus unum: out of many, one. That’s diversity. One of the most important constitutional amendments, which emerged from the movement to abolish slavery during Reconstruction, the 14th Amendment, which promises equal protection under the law — that’s equity … And our pledge, which is recited by members of Congress every day before the House and Senate open. At the end, after pledging allegiance to the flag, we talk about one nation, under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. All. That’s inclusion.”
His book was published by Grand Central Publishing in November 2024 and illustrated by Shaniya Carrington.
Bowman was the first Black person elected to a seat in the 16th Congressional District in New York. He’s excited to announce his new children’s book, “Peace N Love.”
His book is semi-autobiographical in nature, delving into his upbringing in the Bronx with a hard-working single mother, but also discusses politics in a digestible way for younger readers. The title draws inspiration from Bowman’s signature phrase, which he used to begin and end his speeches throughout his career in Congress. Before being an elected official, Bowman was a school principal and educator. He said he began writing and reflecting after he lost his bid for re-election in 2024.
“Every Black man of character that I know mentors and engages young people in an effort to uplift and inspire, though it’s not often seen,” said Bowman, when asked about his book. He wrote it “especially in the spirit of our ancestors. It’s not about us individually. It’s about us as a collective. What’s happening [in the country] is fascist, a dictatorship. And my tone is always from the perspective of the people.”
Bowman added that in a political climate led by Trump and billionaire Elon Musk, it’s only natural that people like him and Jeffries take to writing their stories for young people. He said he’s proud of his former colleagues in government who have taken a stand and loudly pushed back against “the oligarchy.”
“I’d probably be getting arrested,” joked Bowman about what would happen if he were still in office.
Bowman’s book features illustrations by artist Kailyn McBride, who met him during an interview for a communications position in his office.
“Art is colorful, and it resonates with anyone and any child, no matter the color of their skin. I make sure that my illustrations tell a story far beyond the picture on a page,” said McBride in a statement. “Marrying words that promote acceptance with diverse illustrations is the idea behind my work, and I’m glad I was able to help tell Bowman’s story. We want every child in grades Pre-K through third [grade] across America to read this book or have it read to them.”