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Author: Robert Liu-Trujillo

Book Cover – He Hit Me First

This is the cover for author, educator, and filmmaker Robert M. Alexander‘s book “He Hit Me First”.

I did the cover for the first book in this series entitled “She Hit Me First” and I was super excited to get the call to do this one. I illustrate and write picture books but I also love middle grade, especially doing covers! Here’s a bit of process art behind this one. You can purchase the book here.

Written by Dr. Robert Mossi Alexander, educator, counselor, and author of She Hit Me First, this heartfelt story teaches young readers—especially boys—about emotional intelligence, accountability, and the strength found in respecting elders and listening to ancestral wisdom. Perfect for classrooms, mentorship programs, and parents looking to spark important conversations around conflict resolution, masculinity, and healing.

At this stage I usually send my client a bunch of ideas for where people, places, or things could be. Robert chose one, I refined, through some grayscale on it to give an idea of who it would look, then I refined the sketch w/ the typography until he was good with it.

Next were some color directions. I’ve been a freelance illustrator for nearly 20 years and I enjoy adding different ideas for color; not the typical. Lately I’ve really been feeling the combination of purple, orange, and green so I was excited that he picked that one.

And here’s the final artwork for the cover! Wanna know about the story? Here’s the synopsis:

He Hit Me First is a powerful coming-of-age story for readers ages 8–13 that explores cycles of violence, emotional healing, and the power of mentorship. Set in East Oakland, the book follows Elijah, a young boy navigating school, family struggles, and peer pressure. After a schoolyard fight, Elijah is forced to confront the deeper pain behind his anger. With the help of his uncle, a former boxer, and guidance from community mentors, Elijah learns how to channel his energy into personal growth and self-control.

You can purchase the book here.

Dig this? Check out my artwork for

March 4, 2026
in Ilustration
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School Visit – Lila Bringhurst (Fremont)

This is from a recent visit to a school in Fremont California called “Lila Bringhurst Elementary”. Its a chinese immersion school in the South Bay and I had a blast reading to 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders while I was there.

I caught BART from “Fruitvale” station out to “Warm Springs” in the morning and walked to the school where a parent and PTA member Ina was waiting for me.

I got set up in their huge auditorium and then the students started to file in! The school is big so I did my presentation twice with the students split up into two groups. I read Fresh Juice!

As always I shared a story and a bit of the art that goes into making it. Here’s a video reel I made of the visit. BIG thanks to Ina who took a bunch of photos for me while I was presenting.

Dig this? Check out some photos from other school or library visits

March 4, 2026
in School or Library Visit
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Library Visit – Castro Valley

This February I read at the Castro Valley Public Library thanks to librarian extraordinaire Angela Moffett who I met years ago at Fairyland in Oakland. The above photo was taken while I gave a demonstration of how to make the juice from my book Fresh Juice. I made juice for 20 people using carrots, ginger, apple, orange, greens, and cayenne pepper. All the participants got to try a sample and I showed them my juicer and how it works.

Via Alameda County library

When I arrived that day it was raining and it was dark outside already. Here’s some photos of Angela setting things up and a volunteer.

As I mentioned above, immediately after reading the story to a crowd of children, adults, and elders the volunteer students and I went into serving/ demo mode. Photos taken by Angela Moffett.

I always bring art samples if its a book I have illustrated and I handed out my sketchbook, drawings, and paintings from the book.

That’s it for this one. I have been reading in SF, Oakland, and Berkeley for over a decade. Recently I have been reaching out to libraries beyond these cities to read to more students. I’d never read at Castro Valley at a school or library so it was cool to see their library and meet some folks there.

My name is Rob. I’m the author and illustrator of “Fresh Juice” and I’ve been reading and presenting to children in schools and libraries for over 14 years. If you’d like me to visit your school or library give me a holler.

Here are some other places I’ve read at:

February 25, 2026
in School or Library Visit
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Black is Beautiful 2026 – Paul Robeson

I painted this brother because although I’ve heard his name I didnt know who he was. A writer named Howard Bryant put out a book about him and Jackie Robinson and that made me want to look him up!

Paul was born in 1898 in Princeton , NJ. He was the son of a freed slave (his dad) and was raised by him. He grew up strong in the church, playing sports, and very smart. At 17 he got a scholarship to Rutgers University in New Jersey where he studied and played college football, becoming an All American award winning player twice. He went on to play ball and attend Columbia University where he earned a law degree! Facing racism he decided not to go into law but started working in theater eventually making his way onto Broadway for several plays and becoming an actor and singer in film starring in movies. It is said that he was one of the first Black superstar’s because of this and his ability to sing with his deep baritone voice.

But, he left Hollywood because there were not enough substantial , non stereotypical roles for him. He went to the UK and while working internationally learned about struggles in Europe, Africa, and Asia by working class folks and people who were marginalized. He related that back to the struggle of Black folks and other people of color in the US and began speaking out. Paul spoke in favor of workers rights, against segregation and lynching, he denounced facism and apartheid, etc. And because of this and his support for communist China, Russia, and anti colonialist African movements, they blacklisted him, harrassed him, and took away his fame, passport, and ability to work. Paul would come back to performing later in life but struggle with depression, suicide, financial troubles, and drugs. He died in Philadelphia in 1976.

But many remember him for the folk songs he sang, his words and actions of protest, and his expressions of great solidarity between Black people, Jewish folks, the Japanese during WW2, workers in Wales, Mexico, learning and speaking 12+ languages, starring in 13 films, recording 6 albums, and inspiring younger artists and activists.

Sources: Black Past, Toronto Int’l Film Fest, IMDB, Quboz, Wikipedia

Dig this? Check out the Combahee River Collective, Nelson Vails,

February 20, 2026
in Black is Beautiful, General
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Black Joy Parade 2026

Hey Fam, I’ll be at this year’s Black Joy Parade! Its been a few years since I was there and I’m excited to be back. I will have books, prints, and stickers. If you’re there come say hello! If you’ve never been, there is an actual parade at noon on the day of the event Sunday February 22nd. There are also performances, games, activities for kids, story times, tons of vendors, food, drinks, etc.

More information about the event here

Dig this? Check out my table set up from SJ Made 2024.

February 16, 2026
in Events
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Black Is Beautiful 2026 – Combahee River Collective

This is a crew of bad ass women who’s statements echo today and whose voices are still strong. The Combahee River Collective (1974-1980) is a crew, clique, or family founded by Black women out in the Boston area. They are Black, they are women, Queer, and Radical in their politics. “The name”Combahee” refers to the river in South Carolina that Harriet Tubman used to free over 700 enslaved Black folks. In the 60s and 70s we had a lot of movements for civil rights, independence, and social change happening but in separate silos. Meaning some knew their issue, but not others. So, these sisters came from different groups and formed their own. They wrote a statement that gave analysis to movements happening and how they “connected”. This definition was ground breaking back then and is still used by scholars, students, and activists today. Before the term intersectionality, there was Combahee. Celebrating , not ignoring their many identities and helping folks get that oppression is coming for all of us so we better stand with each other, rather than apart. As a group these women who were activists, artists, teachers, writers, etc worked on campaigns to support abortion rights, they stood against sterilization, against domestic violence and attacks against women, they stood up for their Queer and trans family, they were anti-war, anti establishment, and they advocated for solidarity between people fighting oppression. Members included: Gloria Akasha-Hill, Cheryl Clarke, Demita Frazier, Audre Lorde, Chirlane McCray, Margo Okazawa-Rey, Sharon Page-Ritchie, Beverly and Barbara Smith, Helen Stewart, and Mercedes Tompkins.

Why is this important? There are some folks within the Black Power, Feminist, Queer rights, or Social justice movement who pretend like one of the others ain’t shit. You may have seen it. But, I think some would agree, we’re stronger together (w/ hard discussions & principled struggle or disagreements). That means letting go of a lot of EGO and petty shit.

Sources: Black Women Radicals, Democracy Now, BLK History in 2 minutes or so, Wikipedia

Dig this? Check out my piece on Olive Morris, Claudia Jones, or Margaret Sloan.

February 13, 2026
in Black is Beautiful, Educational Resources, General, Ilustration
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Brown Bookshelf feature!

This is a full circle moment. I started trying to get into the children’s book world around 2007/2008. Back then there were very few resources about Black folks or people of color in the biz that I knew of. And The Brown Bookshelf is one of the earliest resources I found! It was raft in a sea of formalities, stereotypes, nepotism, and plain old racism. Thank god for The Brown Bookshelf! Fast forward 15 or 16 years later and I’m featured as one of this year’s 28 storytellers! I am so honored.!!! BIG shout out to Nikki Shannon Smith for the props!

Read what I wrote here and check out some of the other creators. You have no idea how hard it is for these folks to get to where they are.

Dig this? Check out this podcast I was a guest on – Early Risers (Minneapolis Public Radio)

February 8, 2026
in Press & Interviews
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Black Is Beautiful 2026 – Freedom House Ambulance

Its been three years since I did one of these for Black History Month! From 2016-2023 I drew and painted so many people, places, and groups from Black history that we dont hear enough about. And here’s one more:

The Freedom House Ambulance service was founded in 1967 in Pittsburg, PA by Phil Hallen (former ambulance driver) and Dr Peter Safar (Pioneering Dr @ Univ of Pittsburgh) in the Hill District of Pittsburgh, a predominantly Black neighborhood. EMT, Paramedics, and modern ambulances in the US owe a great deal to the Black men and women of Freedom House Ambulance. Around this time there were no ambulances for most working class folks in big cities, you called the police and they threw you in the back of a cop car or a police wagon. Being that there was rampant police brutality, profiling, harassment, and murder at the hands of police there was a contentious relationship when it came to emergency medical service. The majority of officers had no medical training and Black folks were at their wim when it came to being “sick enough” to warrant emergency medical services. As a result so many died from treatable things.

Enter Freedom House, a community based organization that got funding to not only create a hood based ambulance service, but to hire Black men; many of which were unemployed, did not graduate college, or had been in the system. Pioneering Dr Safar and several others gave them 12 months of medical training learning anatomy, physiology, resuscitation, etc. In addition to hundreds of hours in classroom settings , they spent time in the emergency and operating rooms, as well as the morgue before hitting the streets. And when they hit the streets they responded to six thousand calls in the first year or 16 emergency calls daily. Coming from the neighborhoods they were serving they understood when people were having a medical emergency relating to overdose, sickle cell anemia, diabetes, etc. In fact they were among the first paramedics to pioneer techniques using narcan for overdose, electric shock for heart attacks, intubating patients, CPR, and IV‘s. They were a mobile emergency hospital because they stabilized patients, saving thousands of lives.

Fast forward to the mid 70s, word got around that wealthier more white neighborhoods were not receiving the same level of expertise; the mayor and white establishment got jealous; and they intentionally pulled funding and support for the program. The city began randomly testing Freedom House medics, ruling out anyone who had been locked up, and using them to train white EMT’s who got better promotions. Eventually everyone was pushed out and only a select few were able to find employment with the city. But their work went on to help save lives nationwide and is still being used today.

Sources: WQED Pittsburg, Film: Heroes on Call, Wikipedia, and Sage Journals

Dig this? Check out my piece about these medical professionals: Dr Muriel Petioni, Dr Dorothy Brown, or Alice Augusta Ball

February 6, 2026
in Black is Beautiful, Educational Resources, General, Ilustration
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