Through her research, Dr. Cox learned that the representations of Black people (and Black girls/women, in particular) in media have either been sparse or two-dimensional throughout history. After having published in academic journals about this phenomena, she is inspired to create the characters and multidimensionality she'd like to see in Black stories.

In May of 2025, I was awarded Honorable Mention for the Picture Book Rising Stars Mentorship Program! Out of 2,400+ total applications, I was one of only 44 selected as an Honorable Mention. 

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This is an achievement I'm super proud of, and it is only the beginning of my picture book journey. See below for a description of one of the four stories I submitted for consideration in this program. 

When I Grow Up... is a children's book I wrote about a curious and passionate little girl named Nia who quickly and steadfastly pursues her interests in different careers. However, after realizing she's envisioned herself in several different careers, she becomes self-conscious about how often she's changed her mind. This story serves as reassurance to children that it's okay to change your mind. 

 

I was inspired to write this book because, as a child, I was very similar to Nia. I wanted to be in almost every career I learned about, and I would do my research on each career every time with the same vigor. I want this story to inspire children and adults alike to explore all options that interest you without judging yourself for doing so. 

 

This drawing is my interpretation of Nia, wearing an astronaut's helmet at school. 
 

The Beginning of Love is a pilot/short I wrote about two queer Black women who meet at a Psychology conference and fall in love. This story was important for me to get out because rarely, if ever, do we get to see romantic comedies about queer Black women. It's also the first script I have ever written! So, it's automatically near and dear to my heart. And as you'll see from the character names in this excerpt, it's based on an experience I had in real life.

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I'm currently looking for folks to help me bring this story to life, so reach out if you're interested!  

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I'll share the full script with you if you ask nicely :)