Teen author donates '100 Most Important African Americans' book to students

A teen author from Sunset Park is giving back to the Brownsville community for Black History Month.

News 12 Staff

Feb 18, 2020, 12:38 PM

Updated 1,535 days ago

Share:

A teen author from Sunset Park is giving back to the Brownsville community for Black History Month.
At just 16 years old Agatha Edwards has published a book about important figures of African American culture.

“They're a huge part of our history and they've done so many amazing things and there are so many heroes to write about and I thought that it would be a really interesting book to help teach people about some of the things these people have done,” says Edwards.

The high school student and author of “The 100 Most Important African Americans” is from Sunset Park and fell in love with writing at an early age. So far, she's published six books.
For Black History Month she wanted to give back to students in Brownsville.
She started a GoFundMe to raise enough money to donate $3,000 worth of the books to students in the community.
“I kind of wanted to do something more for the community because I’ve gotten a lot of great things and I wanted to do something for kids that don't really get a lot of good opportunities,” says Edwards.

Working with Miriam Robertson, of the Brownsville Heritage House, so far they raised money for 1,000 books and have already passed out more than 400 books to students.

“I’m excited because it's just part of our mission here at Brownsville Heritage House to make sure that culture and tradition are constantly being passed down,” says Robertson.

Edwards hopes to raise about $7,000 more to get 2,000 more copies to students.


More from News 12
Officials: 1 person killed, 1 injured in house explosion in South River

Officials: 1 person killed, 1 injured in house explosion in South River

1:20
Pro-Palestinian protest that postponed final exams at Rutgers ends peacefully

Pro-Palestinian protest that postponed final exams at Rutgers ends peacefully

2:19
Mostly sunny Friday ahead with cooler temperatures; tracking weekend rain

Mostly sunny Friday ahead with cooler temperatures; tracking weekend rain

2:17
Bound Brook starts Lithium Ion Identification Program to help firefighters identify risks

Bound Brook starts Lithium Ion Identification Program to help firefighters identify risks

0:57
Funeral services held in Newark for Rep. Donald Payne, Jr.

Funeral services held in Newark for Rep. Donald Payne, Jr.

0:22
Prosecutor: 61-year-old man dies in Jersey City high-rise fire

Prosecutor: 61-year-old man dies in Jersey City high-rise fire

0:36
Jersey Proud: Police officers gather for town cleanup in memory of fallen officer

Jersey Proud: Police officers gather for town cleanup in memory of fallen officer

1:26
Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

Look up! Annual Eta Aquarid meteor shower peaks early Sunday morning

NJ Transit teams with BetMGM to provide rail serves to MetLife Stadium concerns

NJ Transit teams with BetMGM to provide rail serves to MetLife Stadium concerns

0:46
Car crashes into Hasbrouck Heights apartment building; residents evacuate

Car crashes into Hasbrouck Heights apartment building; residents evacuate

Biden says 'order must prevail' during campus protests over Gaza

Biden says 'order must prevail' during campus protests over Gaza

2:13
Police: Explosion, fire at Old Bridge business kills 73-year-old woman, severely injures 4 others

Police: Explosion, fire at Old Bridge business kills 73-year-old woman, severely injures 4 others

0:47
Learn to make candles at Urban Glo in Union

Learn to make candles at Urban Glo in Union

3:52
I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

I-95 in Norwalk closed until at least Monday following tractor-trailer fire

0:35
Prosecutors: NJ couple pleads guilty to starting illegal marijuana service and employing their son

Prosecutors: NJ couple pleads guilty to starting illegal marijuana service and employing their son

0:24
Should former inmates be allowed to serve on juries in New Jersey? Gov. Murphy says yes

Should former inmates be allowed to serve on juries in New Jersey? Gov. Murphy says yes

0:29
Unruly passenger ordered to pay over $20,000 for interfering with flight from London to Newark

Unruly passenger ordered to pay over $20,000 for interfering with flight from London to Newark

0:20
Authorities: 2 women, 1 man stabbed in altercation at Newark McDonald's

Authorities: 2 women, 1 man stabbed in altercation at Newark McDonald's

0:19
FBI offering $5,000 reward for info on Paterson bank robbery suspect

FBI offering $5,000 reward for info on Paterson bank robbery suspect

0:24
Cape May County lifeguards file lawsuit against Avalon to get pension

Cape May County lifeguards file lawsuit against Avalon to get pension