Actor Taye Diggs, the author of five children’s picture books, some of which have been banned, presented the PEN America 2025 Business Visionary Award to Macmillan Publishers CEO Jon Yaged.
Hi everyone, I’m Taye Diggs. You may know me from the screen or the stage, but some of the projects I’m the most proud of can actually be found on the page. I’m the author of 5 picture books, illustrated by my longtime friend Shane W. Evans. These are books for very young kids that focus on some pretty universal issues like being proud of your identity, what it means to be a true friend, and having empathy for others. Not too controversial, right? Unfortunately, that’s not the case. Several of my books have been banned or challenged in districts around the country, for the crime of being ‘too multicultural.’
It’s upsetting – but I take heart in knowing how much support I have, both from organizations like PEN America, and from my publisher, Macmillan, and particularly its CEO Jon Yaged. You might not know this, but before Jon held this role, he was the head of the children’s publishing division. From the first time I met him during the launch for Chocolate Me! In 2011, it became clear that Jon wasn’t just some executive in a suit; this was someone who was genuinely passionate about books, who understood the impact of diverse representation, and most importantly that he wasn’t interested in publishing my books because I’m an extremely handsome and successful actor, but because he truly believed that publishing them could help make the world a better place.
And now that my books and so many others have come under fire from people who don’t want readers to have access to them, Jon has proven that he’s willing to fight for all of us. He’s been at the forefront of this fight on behalf of Macmillan and the entire publishing industry. At a time when many business leaders are trying to stay under the radar, Jon never hesitates to put himself out there and speak out about the freedom to read, as well as Macmillan’s ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Under Jon’s leadership, Macmillan has signed on as plaintiff in a lawsuit challenging Idaho’s House Bill 710, which restricts access to books deemed “harmful to minors” in public and school libraries. The company has also developed an in-house Freedom To Read taskforce, provided support to numerous organizations (including this one), and organized virtual town halls for librarians in the hardest-hit states. These big-picture actions are all in addition to countless day-to-day acts of support that Jon himself provides for all the individual Macmillan authors who’ve faced book bans and their teams. I mean, this man runs a Big 5 publishing company! And if my sources are correct, last year Macmillan showed record-breaking profits. He must be incredibly busy. And that makes it all the more meaningful to me as an author that Jon is so devoted to taking time to both reassure me and fight on my behalf.
I don’t think it’s being overly dramatic when I say that we are living in challenging times. We are desperately in need of leaders who are both strong and empathetic, who care about more than just a bottom line, and who aren’t afraid to stand up for what’s right. Jon Yaged is all of these things, and I could not be more honored to present him, my friend, with the PEN America Business Visionary Award.
