I spent my Thursday night in fine company, with the many authors and editors honored at the African American Literary Awards Show (AALAS). The Awards Show was hosted at Harlem Stage’s Gatehouse, a venue particularly suited for the occasion. The Gatehouse has been privy to many a historic moment since its construction in 1890, due in great part to its central location in the Harlem community on Convent Ave at 135th Street near the City College of New York, and witnessed yet another last night.

Sandra Olajide, with whom I spent time earlier in the day, presented many of the  awards at the ceremony. Her very first book Yndico Is was not one of the nominees, but I definitely wouldn’t be surprised if her name was added to the category of Young Adult Fiction in the 6th AALAS next year. The international singer songwriter, a newbie to the American literary scene since her recent move to Los Angeles, was excited to be included in the lineup of presenters which included other notables such as Free of BET’s 106 & Park, the recent Making the Band 4 winners Day 26 (who were enticed to give an impromptu performance preceding their presentation), and the winner of the category Male Author of the Year Eric Jerome Dickey.

Yndico Is is the first in a series of children’s science fiction books penned by Ms. Olajide. The book has a “message of mixing power and potential through imagination.” When the main character Yndico emerges from the plane of imagination into which she was drawn at the beginning of the novel, she has embraced that bit of childhood that lives inside her; a bit of childhood lives inside all of us, according to Ms. Olajide, and it helps us to be more comfortable with ourselves, and confident, and to imagine creative solutions for our problems. Ms. Olajide “is passionate about children [who] need us to nurture them, especially their imaginations.” She didn’t set out to write a science fiction novel, in fact she has never read another juvenile sci-fi book, but to impart her message to children and parents alike. Her music, too, seeks to inspire “youth in that tween area [who] often feel pressured to become something different, and to act and interact with the world differently.” Yndico Is broadcasts a message of positivity to young adults, letting them know that we all come in contact with “people like the three aunts [in the book] who want to limit our power” and that we absolutely shouldn’t let them.

In some ways, Ms. Olajide’s first book could be taken as a metaphor for the Awards Show itself. The founder of the AALAS, Yvette Hayword, presented an event Thursday night that is still young – it is still vibrant and developing. For this reason, the show is refreshing in its honesty. Each and every person attending is so obviously committed to this project, and to its continued success. This success is due in large part to individuals recognizing their own potential, and using that potential to make something great for the community at large. Going forward, I hope that the founders and nominees can keep Ms. Olajide’s message in mind and keep the youthful flavor of the Awards Show alive in some ways.