Claudia Walker is an Oakland-based author, educator, and founder of HBCU Prep School, a children’s publishing company that teaches Black history and culture through books, flashcards, and family-centered learning. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Essence, and Black Enterprise.
A proud second-generation HBCU graduate, Claudia’s bestselling series, The ABCs of HBCUs, was inspired by her experiences at Spelman College and as a student in the Atlanta University Center. She went on to write The ABCs of Black Wall Street, The ABCs of Cybersecurity and The ABCs of the Harlem Renaissance to introduce children to the stories, innovators, and communities that have shaped (and continue to shape) our world.
Before launching HBCU Prep School, Claudia worked on Wall Street, where she helped structure and price multimillion-dollar securities for a major investment bank. Although she enjoyed her time in finance, her first loves, writing and teaching, eventually drew her back to California.
In the classroom, Claudia often shared stories of life at Spelman and on Wall Street. But she quickly realized that many of her students had never heard of HBCUs or the history of Black wealth. “I wanted to be part of the solution,” she says. “So I started taking my students to college fairs, hosting summer enrichment camps, and teaching financial literacy classes, but it still wasn’t enough. I wanted to reach more families, so I decided to launch my own publishing company.”
Through HBCU Prep School, Claudia is expanding her mission with Little Revolutionaries, a new line of children’s biographies that will highlight the stories of modern day trailblazers who are changing the world.
Claudia is the proud mom of three amazing children: a future Supreme Court justice, a zoologist, and a superhero in training.
When she’s not writing or teaching, the self-described Mary J. Blige superfan and cupcake connoisseur enjoys traveling with her family and knows that without God, none of her blessings would be possible.
We’re a family-owned publishing and education company that teaches Black history, financial literacy, and cybersecurity through children’s books, puzzles, stationery, videos, classes, and apparel.
Founded in 2020, HBCU Prep School was created to celebrate and share the stories that are too often left out of mainstream education.
Our first title, The ABCs of HBCUs, quickly became a bestseller and was followed by The ABCs of Black Wall Street in 2022. Since its release, The ABCs of Black Wall Street has earned multiple honors, including recognition on Essence Magazine’s list of “Favorite Children’s Books by Black Authors” and the Black Caucus of the American Library Association’s “Best of the Best” list.
In 2023, both books were featured in Target stores nationwide as part of their Black History Month collection. That same year, founder Claudia Walker and her daughter were invited to the White House and released The ABCs of Cybersecurity, a fun and timely introduction to internet safety for kids.
In 2025, we added The ABCs of the Harlem Renaissance to our growing collection, honoring the artists, writers, and thinkers who helped define a generation.
From our books and flashcards to our puzzles and music videos, everything we create is designed to help children learn about Black culture, history, and innovation in a modern and meaningful way. Our products proudly celebrate the Black experience and remind children that they are part of a powerful and ongoing story.
Soon, we will expand with Little Revolutionaries, a new line of children’s biographies that spotlights modern-day change makers who push the culture forward.
At HBCU Prep School, we believe education should reflect every child’s story.
