222 products found
Sort by:
Recommended
-
ABCs of Black History
"B" is for Beautiful, Brave, and Bright! And for a Book that takes a Bold journey through the alphabet of Black history and culture.
Letter by letter, THE ABCS OF BLACK HISTORY celebrates a story that spans continents and centuries, triumph and heartbreak, creativity and joy. It's a story of big ideas--"P" is for Power, "S" is for Science and Soul; of significant moments--"G" is for Great Migration; of iconic figures--"H" is for Zora Neale Hurston, "X" is for Malcom X. It's an ABC book like no other, and a story of hope and love.
In addition to rhyming text, the book includes back matter with information on the events, places, and people mentioned in the poem, from Mae Jemison to W. E. B. Du Bois, Fannie Lou Hamer to Sam Cooke, and the Little Rock Nine to DJ Kool Herc.
A New York Times Bestseller
Target age group 4-8 -
Little Legends: Exceptional Men in Black History
Author/illustrator Vashti Harrison shines a bold, joyous light on black men through history in this #1 New York Times bestseller.
An important book for readers of all ages, this beautifully illustrated and engagingly written volume brings to life true stories of black men in history.
Among these biographies, readers will find aviators and artists, politicians and pop stars, athletes and activists. The exceptional men featured include writer James Baldwin, artist Aaron Douglas, filmmaker Oscar Devereaux Micheaux, lawman Bass Reeves, civil rights leader John Lewis, dancer Alvin Ailey, and musician Prince.
The legends in LITTLE LEGENDS: EXCEPTIONAL MEN IN BLACK HISTORY span centuries and continents, but each one has blazed a trail for generations to come.
Target age group 8-12 -
Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
An important book for all ages, LITTLE LEADERS educates and inspires as it relates true stories of forty trailblazing black women in American history.
Illuminating text paired with irresistible illustrations bring to life both iconic and lesser-known female figures of Black history such as abolitionist Sojourner Truth, pilot Bessie Coleman, chemist Alice Ball, politician Shirley Chisholm, mathematician Katherine Johnson, poet Maya Angelou, and filmmaker Julie Dash.
Among these biographies, readers will find heroes, role models, and everyday women who did extraordinary things - bold women whose actions and beliefs contributed to making the world better for generations of girls and women to come. Whether they were putting pen to paper, soaring through the air or speaking up for the rights of others, the women profiled in these pages were all taking a stand against a world that didn't always accept them.
The leaders in this book may be little, but they all did something big and amazing, inspiring generations to come.
Target age group 8-12 -
Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy: Racism, Injustice, and How You Can Be a Changemaker (Young Readers Adaptation)
Adapted from Emmanuel Acho's New York Times bestseller UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH A BLACK MAN, comes an essential young readers edition aimed at opening a dialogue about systemic racism with our youngest generation.
Young people have the power to affect sweeping change, and the key to mending the racial divide in America lies in giving them the tools to ask honest questions and take in the difficult answers.
Approaching every awkward, taboo, and uncomfortable question with openness and patience, Emmanuel Acho connects his own experience with race and racism -- from attending majority-white prep schools to his time in the NFL playing on majority-black football teams -- to insightful lessons in black history and black culture.
UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS WITH A BLACK BOY is just one way young readers can begin to short circuit racism within their own lives and communities.
Target age group 10-14 -
Juneteenth: A Picture Book for Kids Celebrating Black Joy
A lyrical picture book about our newest national holiday, Juneteenth follows the annual celebration in Galveston, Texas--birthplace of Juneteenth--through the eyes of a boy coming to understand his place in Black American history in a story from three Texan creators.
A young Black child experiences the magic of the Juneteenth parade for the first time with their family as they come to understand the purpose of the party that happens every year--and why they celebrate their African American history!
The poetic text includes selected lyrics from "Lift Every Voice and Sing," the unofficial Black National Anthem, and the vibrant art illuminates the beauty of this moment of Black joy, celebrated across the nation. This vibrant adventure through the city streets invites young readers to make a joyful noise about freedom for all.
Target age group 4-8 -
Free at Last: A Juneteenth Poem
This lyrical celebration of Juneteenth, deeply rooted in Black American history, spans centuries and reverberates loudly and proudly today.
"After 300 years of forced bondage;
hands bound, descendants of Africa
picked up their souls--all that they owned--
leaving shackles where they fell on the ground,
headed for the nearest resting place to be found."
Deeply emotional, evocative free verse by poet and activist Sojourner Kincaid Rolle traces the solemnity and celebration of Juneteenth from its 1865 origins in Galveston, Texas to contemporary observances all over the United States. This is an ode to the strength of Black Americans and a call to remember and honor a holiday whose importance reverberates far beyond the borders of Texas.
Target age group 4-8 -
Black Klansman: Race, Hate, and the Undercover Investigation of a Lifetime
The extraordinary true story and basis for the Academy Award winning film "BlacKkKlansman," written and directed by Spike Lee, produced by Jordan Peele, and starring John David Washington and Adam Driver.
When detective Ron Stallworth, the first black detective in the history of the Colorado Springs Police Department, comes across a classified ad in the local paper asking for all those interested in joining the Ku Klux Klan to contact a P.O. box, Detective Stallworth does his job and responds with interest, using his real name while posing as a white man. He figures he'll receive a few brochures in the mail, maybe even a magazine, and learn more about a growing terrorist threat in his community.
A few weeks later the office phone rings, and the caller asks Ron a question he thought he'd never have to answer, "Would you like to join our cause?" This is 1978, and the KKK is on the rise in the United States. Its Grand Wizard, David Duke, has made a name for himself, appearing on talk shows, and major magazine interviews preaching a "kinder" Klan that wants nothing more than to preserve a heritage, and to restore a nation to its former glory.
Ron answers the caller's question that night with a yes, launching what is surely one of the most audacious, and incredible undercover investigations in history. Ron recruits his partner Chuck to play the white Ron Stallworth, while Stallworth himself conducts all subsequent phone conversations. During the months-long investigation, Stallworth sabotages cross burnings, exposes white supremacists in the military, and even befriends David Duke himself.
BLACK KLANSMAN is an amazing true story that reads like a crime thriller, and a searing portrait of a divided America and the extraordinary heroes who dare to fight back.
The #1 New York Times Bestseller
Target age group 15 and up -
Black Roses: Odes Celebrating Powerful Black Women
The poet and founder of the music collective FLOWERS FOR THE LIVING pays tribute to all Black women by focusing on visionaries and leaders who are making history right now, including Ava DuVernay, Janelle Monae, Kamala Harris, Misty Copeland, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Robin Roberts, Roxane Gay, and Simone Biles--with this compilation of celebratory odes featuring full-color illustrations by Melissa Koby.
Black women are exceptional. To honor how Black women use their minds, talent, passion, and power to transform society, Harold Green began writing love letters in verse which he shared on his Instagram account. Balm for our troubled times, his tributes to visionaries and leaders quickly went viral and became a social media sensation. Now, in this remarkable collection, Green brings together many of these popular odes with never-before-seen works.
A timely celebration of contemporary Black figures who are making history and shaping our culture today, Black Roses is divided into five sections--advocates, curators, innovators, luminaries, trailblazers--reflecting the diversity of Black women's achievements and the depth of their reach. These inspiring changemakers are leaving their mark on the world by creating new beauty in their respective art forms, heading movements, fighting for equality and to change the status quo, and championing new definitions of what's possible in every meaningful way. Green lifts them up to create meaningful connections between these figures and our own lives and experiences.
BLACK ROSES spotlights and urges readers to learn more about Allyson Felix, Angelica Ross, Ava DuVernay, Bisa Butler, Bozoma Saint John, Charisma Sweat-Green, Dr. Eve Ewing, Dr. Janice Jackson, Dr. Johnnetta Cole, Eunique Jones-Gibson, Issa Rae, Janelle Monae, Jennifer Hudson, Jessica Matthews, Kamala Harris, Keisha Bottoms, Kimberly Bryant, Kimberly Drew, Lisa Green, Lizzo, Mandilyn Graham, Mellody Hobson, Michelle Alexander, Misty Copeland, Naomi Beckwith, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Phylicia Rashad, Rapsody, Raquel Willis, Robin Roberts, Roxane Gay, Shellye Archambeau, Simone Biles, Stacey Abrams, Tabitha Brown, Tamika Mallory, Tarana Burke, Tasha Bell, Tomi Adeyemi, and Tracee Ellis Ross.
Target age group 14 and up -
We Are Here
An empowering follow-up to New York Times best-selling picture book ALL BECAUSE YOU MATTER that celebrates the rich history of Black and brown men and women throughout history with soaring language and stunning illustration.
Lyrical, affirmational, and bursting with love, WE ARE HERE is a poignant story about Black and brown heritage and community. Full of assurance, tenderness, and triumph, this much-anticipated follow-up to the New York Times best-selling picture book ALL BECAUSE YOU MATTER offers an equally inspirational and arresting ode to all of the Black women and men throughout history who have made momentous contributions from the beginning of time.
Tami Charles shares the beauty and excellence in the history of the Black community, assuring Black and brown children of the extraordinary legacy from which they come. Charles's powerful and empowering text is accompanied with illustrations by renowned artist Bryan Collier, a four-time Caldecott Honor recipient and a nine-time Coretta Scott King Award winner or honoree. WE ARE HERE celebrates readers with pride, joy, and love, reminding them of their roots, inviting readers to imagine a future that shines ever bright, and strengthening them for their triumphant days to come!
Target age group 4-8 -
Black Brother Black Brother (Paperback)
From award-winning and best-selling author Jewell Parker Rhodes comes a powerful coming-of-age story about two brothers, one who presents as white, the other as black, and the complex ways in which they are forced to navigate the world, all while training for a fencing competition--now in paperback!
Framed. Bullied. Disliked. But I know I can still be the best.
Sometimes, 12-year-old Donte wishes he were invisible. As one of the few black boys at Middlefield Prep, most of the students don't look like him. They don't like him either. Dubbing him Black Brother, Donte's teachers and classmates make it clear they wish he were more like his lighter-skinned brother, Trey. When he's bullied and framed by the captain of the fencing team, King Alan, he's suspended from school and arrested for something he didn't do.
Terrified, searching for a place where he belongs, Donte joins a local youth center and meets former Olympic fencer Arden Jones. With Arden's help, he begins training as a competitive fencer, setting his sights on taking down the fencing team captain, no matter what.
As Donte hones his fencing skills and grows closer to achieving his goal, he learns the fight for justice is far from over. Now Donte must confront his bullies, racism, and the corrupt systems of power that led to his arrest.
Powerful and emotionally gripping, BLACK BROTHER, BLACK BROTHER is a careful examination of the school-to-prison pipeline and follows one boy's fight against racism and his empowering path to finding his voice.
Target age group 8 to 12 -
Who Was Martin Luther King Jr? (Who Was...?)
With clearly written text that explains a tumultuous time in American history, along with 80 black-and-white illustrations, this biography of Dr. King celebrates the vision and the legacy of a remarkable man.
Illustrations.
Target age group 8-12 -
Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood
A collection of stories, comics, and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood.
"Black boy joy is...
Picking out a fresh first-day-of-school outfit.
Saving the universe in an epic intergalactic race.
Finding your voice--and your rhymes--during tough times.
Flying on your skateboard like nobody's watching."
And more! From seventeen acclaimed Black male and non-binary authors comes a vibrant collection of stories, comics, and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood.
Contributors include:
B. B. Alston
Dean Atta
P. Djèlí Clark
Jay Coles
Jerry Craft
Lamar Giles
Don P. Hooper
George M. Johnson
Varian Johnson
Kwame Mbalia
Suyi Davies Okungbowa
Tochi Onyebuchi
Julian Randall
Jason Reynolds
Justin Reynolds
DaVaun Sanders
Julian Winters
"BLACK BOY JOY has something for every type of reader." --The New York Times Book Review
"Pick up BLACK BOY JOY for a heavy dose of happiness." --Booklist, starred review
Target age group 9-12 -
Blacker the Berry
In this lyrical and luminous poetry collection, Coretta Scott King honorees Joyce Carol Thomas and Floyd Cooper celebrate these many shades of Black beautifully.
"Black is dazzling and distinctive, like toasted wheat berry bread; snowberries in the fall; rich, red cranberries; and the bronzed last leaves of summer."
"We are color struck
The way an artist strikes
His canvas with his brush of many hues
Look closely at these mirrors
these palettes of skin
Each color is rich
in its own right"
"Highly recommended for home and school libraries," commented Brightly's Charnaie Gordon. "Each melodic poem eloquently conveys the beauty of different skin tones and complexions. There are also themes of family, traditions, feelings, self-love, and acceptance echoes throughout this book."
"Evocative, colorful poetry. An essential picture book." --Kirkus (starred review)
Included in Brightly's list of recommended diverse poetry picture books for kids.
Target age group 4-8 -
Lifting as We Climb: Black Women's Battle for the Ballot Box
For African American women, the fight for the right to vote was only one battle.
This Coretta Scott King Author Honor book tells the important, overlooked story of black women as a force in the suffrage movement--when fellow suffragists did not accept them as equal partners in the struggle.
Susan B. Anthony. Elizabeth Cady Stanton. Alice Paul. The Women's Rights Convention at Seneca Falls. The 1913 Women's March in D.C. When the epic story of the suffrage movement in the United States is told, the most familiar leaders, speakers at meetings, and participants in marches written about or pictured are generally white.
That's not the real story.
Women of color, especially African American women, were fighting for their right to vote and to be treated as full, equal citizens of the United States. Their battlefront wasn't just about gender. African American women had to deal with white abolitionist-suffragists who drew the line at sharing power with their black sisters. They had to overcome deep, exclusionary racial prejudices that were rife in the American suffrage movement. And they had to maintain their dignity--and safety--in a society that tried to keep them in its bottom ranks.
LIFTING AS WE CLIMB is the empowering story of African American women who refused to accept all this. Women in black church groups, black female sororities, black women's improvement societies and social clubs. Women who formed their own black suffrage associations when white-dominated national suffrage groups rejected them. Women like Mary Church Terrell, a founder of the National Association of Colored Women and of the NAACP; or educator-activist Anna Julia Cooper who championed women getting the vote and a college education; or the crusading journalist Ida B. Wells, a leader in both the suffrage and anti-lynching movements.
Author Evette Dionne, a feminist culture writer and the editor-in-chief of Bitch Media, has uncovered an extraordinary and underrepresented history of black women. In her powerful book, she draws an important historical line from abolition to suffrage to civil rights to contemporary young activists--filling in the blanks of the American suffrage story.
"Dionne provides a detailed and comprehensive look at the overlooked roles African American women played in the efforts to end slavery and then to secure the right to vote for women." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Target age group 13-14 -
1619 Project: Born on the Water
The 1619 Project's lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and Newbery honor-winning author Renée Watson.
A young student receives a family tree assignment in school, but she can only trace back three generations. Grandma gathers the whole family, and the student learns that 400 years ago, in 1619, their ancestors were stolen and brought to America by white slave traders. But before that, they had a home, a land, a language. She learns how the people said to be born on the water survived.
"And the people planted dreams and hope,
willed themselves to keep
living, living.
And the people learned new words
for love
for friend
for family
for joy
for grow
for home."
With powerful verse and striking illustrations by Nikkolas Smith, BORN ON THE WATER provides a pathway for readers of all ages to reflect on the origins of American identity.
Target age group 6-10 -
Legacy of Jim Crow (True History)
Introducing a new nonfiction series for the next generation of activists, uncovering the hidden history of the United States through an anti-racist lens.
The true story of the discriminatory laws and ideas that affected African American life for generations.
In the late nineteenth century, white lawmakers in the United States created a set of policies, collectively called "Jim Crow," that created segregated facilities, like schools and parks, for African Americans in the South.
But Jim Crow-type policies didn't just affect the South. These policies had far-reaching effects across America, impacting where Black people live, how they're treated by the criminal justice system, and how they're portrayed in TV and film.
THE LEGACY OF JIM CROW explores the details that have far too often been covered up, along with exclusive interviews with experts, including Pulitzer Price-winning author Jeffrey C. Stewart.
"A powerful series that fills in the cracks and illuminates that shadows of the past." --Sherri L. Smith, award-winning author of FLYGIRL
Target age group 10 and up -
For Black Girls Like Me
In this lyrical coming-of-age story about family, sisterhood, music, race, and identity, Mariama J. Lockington draws on some of the emotional truths from her own experiences growing up with an adoptive white family.
"I am a girl but most days I feel like a question mark."
Makeda June Kirkland is eleven years old, adopted, and black. Her parents and big sister are white, and even though she loves her family very much, Makeda often feels left out. When Makeda's family moves from Maryland to New Mexico, she leaves behind her best friend, Lena-- the only other adopted black girl she knows-- for a new life. In New Mexico, everything is different. At home, Makeda's sister is too cool to hang out with her anymore and at school, she can't seem to find one real friend. Through it all, Makeda can't help but wonder: What would it feel like to grow up with a family that looks like me?
Through singing, dreaming, and writing secret messages back and forth with Lena, Makeda might just carve a small place for herself in the world.
FOR BLACK GIRLS LIKE ME is for anyone who has ever asked themselves: How do you figure out where you are going if you don't know where you came from?
Target age group 9-11 -
Glory: Magical Visions of Black Beauty
From Kahran and Regis Bethencourt, the dynamite husband and wife duo behind CreativeSoul Photography, comes GLORY, a photography book that shatters the conventional standards of beauty for Black children.
With stunning images of natural hair and gorgeous, inventive visual storytelling, GLORY puts Black beauty front and center with more than 100 breathtaking photographs and a collection of powerful essays about the children. At its heart, it is a recognition and celebration of the versatility and innate beauty of black hair, and black beauty. The glorious coffee-table book pays homage to the story of our royal past, celebrates the glory of the here and now, and even dares to forecast the future.
It brings to life past, present, and future visions of black culture and showcases the power and beauty of recognizing and celebrating oneself. Beauty as an expression of who you are is power. When we define our own standards of beauty, we take back that power. GLORY encourages children around the world to feel that power and harness it.
Featuring a foreword by Amanda Seales.
Target age group 9-12 -
Harriet Tubman: Union Spy (Hidden History: Spies)
The story of Harriet Tubman and her role in leading slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad is well-known. But did you know that during the Civil War Harriet would often dress in disguise to gain important information to share with the Union Army?
Target age group 8-12 -
Show Me History! Leaders (5 Book set)
This set includes 5 books in the "Show Me History!" series:
HARRIET TUBMAN: FIGHTER FOR FREEDOM
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery, helped dozens make it to freedom, and then became an abolitionist and women’s rights advocate. Here’s the remarkable life story of an American hero, told in an exciting graphic novel format.
SACAGAWEA: COURAGEOUS TRAILBLAZER
What did 33 men in the 1800s need to find their way through the wilderness on a trip across America? They needed a woman -- and they found one in Sacagawea, the Native American teenage mother who helped the Lewis and Clark expedition survive. She and her baby braved floods, hunger, storms, and snakes to help the expedition that opened the West. SACAGAWEA: COURAGEOUS TRAILBLAZER tells the life story of this amazing pioneer who endured hardship in her youth but nevertheless became a fearless leader and a role model for generations to come.
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.: VOICE OF EQUALITY
With full-color illustrations and a historically accurate narrative, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.: VOICE OF EQUALITY will inform and entertain readers of all ages. From his childhood in Atlanta to his rise as an international icon of human rights and a fiery orator who refused to back down in the face of adversity, King’s life story serves as an ongoing source of inspiration.
SUSAN B. ANTHONY: CHAMPION FOR VOTING RIGHTS
In 1873, Susan B. Anthony broke the law -- because it was illegal for women to vote. She fought against injustices like slavery and inequality for women, and stood up for her beliefs no matter the cost. Step up with Susan B. Anthony to learn how one dedicated voice can make a difference!
GEORGE WASHINGTON: SOLDIER AND STATESMAN
Known as the “Father of Our Country,” George Washington lost his own father at the age of 11, was a surrogate father to Alexander Hamilton, and yet was never a father himself. In war and in peace, he left an unmistakable impression on his new nation in more ways than you know. George Washington: Soldier and Statesman tells the story of the United States’ first president -- from his rise as a soldier fighting for American freedom from Great Britain to his legacy as an impartial statesman who put his country before himself.
Target age group 9-12 -
Lullaby For a Black Mother (Board Book)
This beloved poem by Langston Hughes, illustrated by the award-winning Sean Qualls, is an irresistible celebration of the love between mother and a baby, now available in board book format.
"My little dark baby, / My little earth-thing, / My little love-one, / What shall I sing / For your lullaby?"
Award-winning illustrator Sean Qualls's painted and collaged artwork captures universally powerful maternal moments with tenderness. In the end, readers will find a rare photo of baby Hughes and his mother, a biographical note, further reading, and the complete lullaby. Like little love-ones, this beautiful book is a treasure.
Target age group 18-36 months -
Black Jack: The Ballad of Jack Johnson
Born as Arthur John Johnson in the southern state of Texas, Jack Johnson was one of the most renowned boxers of the twentieth century. Through hard work and persistence, he climbed the ranks, taking a swing and a jab and eventually busting the color barrier. As the first black man to win the Heavyweight Championship, there was more than a title on the line.
Published to commemorate the 100th anniversary of this history-making bout (July 4, 1910). This is an extraordinary marriage of poetry, fabulous collage artwork, and a splendid achievement in its own right.
Target age group 4-8 -
Black Cowboy Wild Horses: A True Story
Bob Lemmons is famous for his ability to track wild horses. He rides his horse, Warrior, picks up the trail of mustangs, then runs with them day and night until they accept his presence. Bob and Warrior must then challenge the stallion for leadership of the wild herd. A victorious Bob leads the mustangs across the wide plains and for one last spectacular run before guiding them into the corral. Bob's job is done, but he dreams of galloping with Warrior forever to where the sky and land meet.
This splendid collaboration by an award-winning team captures the beauty and harshness of the frontier, a boundless arena for the struggle between freedom and survival. Based on accounts of Bob Lemmons, a formerly enslaved person, BLACK COWBOY, WILD HORSES: A TRUE STORY has been rewritten as a picture book by Julius Lester from his story "The Man Who Was a Horse" in LONG JOURNEY HOME, first published by Dial in 1972.
Target age group 4-8 -
What Is Black Lives Matter? (Who HQ Now)
From the #1 New York Times best-selling series comes the latest title in the Who HQ Now format for trending topics. It tells the history of a political and social movement that advocates for non-violent civil disobedience and protests against incidents of police brutality--and all racially motivated violence--against Black people.
When a Black teenager named Trayvon Martin was senselessly killed in 2012, the African American community called for his murderer to be held accountable. But like many other racially sparked incidents in the past, his killer walked free. People looked for justice and healing in the moment. They turned to social media and a simple yet powerful hashtag emerged, #BlackLivesMatter.
The message grew into an international movement and has now become the rallying cry during protests against police brutality and racial acts of violence. The movement gained even more attention and support in 2020 when it called for police reform in the United States after the police-related murder of George Floyd.
Target age group 8-12 -
Recognize!: An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life
In the stunning follow-up to THE TALK: CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE, LOVE & TRUTH, award-winning Black authors and artists come together to create a moving anthology collection celebrating Black love, Black creativity, Black resistance, and Black life.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
BLACK LIVES HAVE ALWAYS MATTERED
BLACK LIVES WILL ALWAYS MATTER
Prominent Black creators lend their voice, their insight, and their talent to an inspiring anthology that celebrates Black culture and Black life. Essays, poems, short stories, and historical excerpts blend with a full-color eight-page insert of spellbinding art to capture the pride, prestige, and jubilation that is being Black in America. In these pages, find the stories of the past, the journeys of the present, and the light guiding the future.
"A multifaceted, sometimes disheartening, yet consistently enriching primer on the unyielding necessity of those three words: Black Lives Matter." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Target age group 9-12 -
Fierce 44: Black Americans Who Shook Up the World
A dynamic and hip collective biography that presents forty-four of America's greatest movers and shakers, from Frederick Douglass to Aretha Franklin to Barack Obama, written by ESPN's "TheUndefeated.com" and illustrated with dazzling portraits by Rob Ball.
From visionaries to entrepreneurs, athletes to activists, THE FIERCE 44 are beacons of brilliance, perseverance, and excellence. Each short biography is accompanied by a compelling portrait by Robert Ball, whose bright, graphic art pops off the page.
Bringing household names like Serena Williams and Harriet Tubman together with lesser-known but highly deserving figures such as Robert Abbott and Dr. Charles Drew, this collection is a celebration of all that African Americans have achieved, despite everything they have had to overcome.
Target age group 10-12 -
Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America
The National Book Award winning history of how racist ideas were created, spread, and deeply rooted in American society.
Some Americans insist that we're living in a post-racial society. But racist thought is not just alive and well in America--it is more sophisticated and more insidious than ever. And as award-winning historian Ibram X. Kendi argues, racist ideas have a long and lingering history, one in which nearly every great American thinker is complicit.
In this deeply researched and fast-moving narrative, Kendi chronicles the entire story of anti-black racist ideas and their staggering power over the course of American history. He uses the life stories of five major American intellectuals to drive this history: Puritan minister Cotton Mather, Thomas Jefferson, abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison, W.E.B. Du Bois, and legendary activist Angela Davis.
As Kendi shows, racist ideas did not arise from ignorance or hatred. They were created to justify and rationalize deeply entrenched discriminatory policies and the nation's racial inequities. In shedding light on this history, STAMPED FROM THE BEGINNING offers us the tools we need to expose racist thinking. In the process, he gives us reason to hope.
Target age group 15 and up -
Mae Makes a Way: The True Story of Mae Reeves, Hat and History Maker
Tip your hat to fashion designer and civil rights icon Mae Reeves in this picture book biography written in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture!
Mae had a dream to make one-of-a-kind hats. But the path for a Black female designer was unclear, so Mae made a way, leaving her home in the segregated South to study at the Chicago School of Millinery.
Mae had the skills, but craved the independence to create her own styles. So Mae found a way. In Philadelphia, she became the first Black woman to own a business on South Street. Whether you were Lena Horne, Ella Fitzgerald, Marian Anderson or a lady from the neighborhood, Mae wanted you to look good and feel special in one of her original hats. A mother, a successful entrepreneur, and a community advocate, Mae led the way.
Published in collaboration with the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, acclaimed author Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich (TWO NAOMIS) and award-winning illustrator Andrea Pippins (I LOVE MY HAIR) bring the life of fashion entrepreneur and civic organizer Mae Reeves to the page. And when you are done reading, explore Mae's store and styles in person at her permanent exhibit at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
Target age group 7-10 -
Shirley Chisholm Dared: The Story of the First Black Woman in Congress
Discover the inspiring story of the first black woman elected to Congress and to run for president in this picture book biography from a Newbery Honor-winning author and a Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe New Talent Award-winning illustrator.
Meet Shirley, a little girl who asks way too many questions!
After spending her early years on her grandparents' farm in Barbados, she returns home to Brooklyn and immediately makes herself known. Shirley kicks butt in school; she breaks her mother's curfew; she plays jazz piano instead of classical. And as a young adult, she fights against the injustice she sees around her, against women and black people. Soon she is running for state assembly... and winning in a landslide.
Three years later, she is on the campaign trail again, as the first black woman to run for Congress. Her slogan? "Fighting Shirley Chisholm -- Unbought and Unbossed!" Does she win? You bet she does.
Target age group 4-8 -
Hold the Flag High: The True Story of the First Black Medal of Honor Winner
The true story of the first Black Medal of Freedom winner -- a remarkable account of one of the most memorable battles in Civil War history.
Sergeant William H. Carney was one of the few Black officers of the newly formed Massachusetts Fifty-fourth Regiment -- composed entirely of Black soldiers. In an important Civil War battle, Carney led his men over the ramparts of Fort Wagner, where Union soldiers charged the Confederates. As they fought, they gained strength from the stars and stripes of the American flag, Old Glory.
It was Carney's vow to never let Old Glory touch the ground, and despite several gunshot wounds, he was able to rescue the flag from the fallen bearer. Carney held the flag high as a symbol that his regiment would never submit to the Confederacy. The battle of Fort Wagner decimated the Fifth-fourth Regiment, but Carney's heroism that night inspired all who survived.
This nonfiction picture book is authored by Catherine Clinton, the Denman Chair of American History at the University of Texas in San Antonio, and beautifully illustrated by Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award winner Shane W. Evans.
"Captures the fear and horror of battle as well as the bravery of the soldiers." --Booklist
"An excellent resource to humanize textbook studies of the Civil War." --School Library Journal
Target age group 4-8 -
Harriet Tubman Secret Agent: How Daring Slaves and Free Blacks Spied for the Union During the Civil War
It's 1863. Harriet Tubman is facing one of the biggest--and most dangerous--challenges of her life. She has survived her master's lash, escaped from slavery, and risked her life countless times to lead runaway slaves to freedom along the Underground Railroad. Now she has a new role--that of Union spy!
The outcome of a secret night raid deep into Confederate territory depends on the accuracy of the intelligence she and other black spies have gathered. Success will mean freedom for hundreds of slaves. Failure will mean death by hanging.
You are about to enter the undercover world of African-American spies--enslaved and free--risking everything in the name of freedom. How were the Underground Railroad and slave songs used to pass secret messages? What were "contrabands" and "Black Dispatches?" What did Harriet have in common with the Secret Six and a maidservant in the home of Confederate President Jefferson Davis?
You'll discover these answers and more as the action unfolds. Thomas B. Allen, author of the award-winning George Washington, Spymaster, has sifted through military and intelligence archives, diaries, and little-known memoirs from ex-slaves to bring to light new facts about the role Harriet and other black spies played in helping the Union win the war. This detailed account combined with powerful archival images supplemented with woodcuts by Carla Bauer, maps, a time line, footnotes, and extensive quote sources make this incredibly detailed account an excellent resource for report writing as well as an exciting true-life adventure.
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources. Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.
Target age group 10-14 -
Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls: 100 Real Life Tales of Black Girl Magic (Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls #04)
The fourth installment in the New York Times best-selling "Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls" series, featuring 100 barrier-breaking Black women and girls who showcase the spirit of Black Girl Magic.
GOOD NIGHT STORIES FOR REBEL GIRLS: 100 REAL-LIFE TALES OF BLACK GIRL MAGIC, edited by award-winning journalist Lilly Workneh with a foreword by #BlackGirlMagic originator CaShawn Thompson, is dedicated to amplifying and celebrating the stories of Black women and girls from around the world; features the work of over 60 Black female and non-binary authors, illustrators, and editors; is designed to acknowledge, applaud, and amplify the incredible stories of Black women and girls from the past and present; and celebrates Black Girl Magic around the world.
Amongst the women featured from over 30 countries are tennis player Naomi Osaka, astronaut Jeanette Epps, author Toni Morrison, filmmaker Ava DuVernay; aviator Bessie Coleman, Empress Taytu Betul, journalist Ida B. Wells, and many other inspiring leaders, champions, innovators, and creators.
GOOD NIGHT STORIES FOR REBEL GIRLS: 100 REAL-LIFE TALES OF BLACK GIRL MAGIC is published by Rebel Girls, a global, multi-platform empowerment brand dedicated to helping raise the most inspired and confident global generation of girls through content, experiences, products, and community.
CaShawn Thompson, a proud third-generation native of Washington, DC, came up with the concept "Black Girls Are Magic" when she was a little girl growing up with her mother, grandmother, and aunts. It sprang forth fully formed from the mind of a poor little Black girl who didn't yet have the words to describe the brilliance she saw in the women in her family, but had heard countless tales of fairies, witches, and magicians.
It was just magic to her. And it still is. Black Girls Are Magic became wildly popular in 2013 after CaShawn began using the phrase online (it was later shortened to the hashtag #BlackGirlMagic) to uplift and praise the accomplishments, beauty, and other amazing qualities of Black women.
Target age group 8-13 -
What Was Reconstruction? (What Was?)
In the same style as the New York Times best-selling "Who Was?" series, "What Was?" focuses on compelling historical events, great battles, protests, and discoveries.
Learn about a pivotal time in American history and its momentous effects on civil rights in America in this enlightening title about Reconstruction.
Reconstruction -- the period after the Civil War -- was meant to give newly freed Black people the same rights as white people. And indeed there were monumental changes once slavery ended -- thriving new Black communities, the first Black members in Congress, and a new sense of dignity for many Black Americans. But this time of hope didn't last long and instead, a deeply segregated United States continued on for another hundred years. Find out what went wrong in this fascinating overview of a troubled time.
Target age group 8-12 -
They Had a Dream: The Civil Rights Struggle from Frederick Douglass to Marcus Garvey to Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X (Epoch Biographies)
In four riveting biographies, award-winning historian Jules Archer presents portraits of courage and determination and an encapsulated history of the civil rights struggle in the United States.
Frederick Douglass, born a slave, fought for his own and his people's freedom from slavery.
Marcus Garvey, who led the Back to Africa movement, promoted black nationalism and black pride.
Martin Luther King Jr. organized millions of people and preached nonviolent civil disobedience to win equality through integration.
Malcolm X, raised on the streets and in prison, sought equal rights through confrontation and racial separation.
Target age group 14 and up -
Who Is Barack Obama? (Who Was...?)
As the world now knows, Barack Obama has made history as America's first African-American president.
With black-and-white illustrations throughout, this biography is ideal for primary graders.
Target age group 8-12 -
O W Gurley (Leaders Like Us)
Children learn about one of the most influential African American leaders in history with the biography of businesswoman O.W. Gurley.
O.W. Gurley quickly became one of the most influential African American businessmen in history. Using his funds to help develop the Greenwood neighborhood of Tulsa, Oklahoma, he turned 40-acres of land into the popular "Black Wall Street."
About Rourke: We proudly publish respectful and relevant nonfiction and fiction titles that represent our diverse readers, and are designed to support reading on a level that has no limits!
Target age group 6-10 -
Inheritance: A Visual Poem
"They tell me to 'fix' my hair.
And by 'fix,' they mean straighten, they mean whiten;
but how do you fix this shipwrecked
history of hair?"
In her most famous spoken-word poem, author of the Pura Belpré-winning novel-in-verse, THE POET X, Elizabeth Acevedo embraces all the complexities of Black hair and Afro-Latinidad -- the history, pain, pride, and powerful love of that inheritance.
Paired with full-color illustrations by artist Andrea Pippins in a format that will appeal to fans of Mahogany L. Browne's BLACK GIRL MAGIC or Jason Reynold's FOR EVERYONE, this poem can now be read in a vibrant package, making it the ideal gift, treasure, or inspiration for readers of any age.
Target age group 13 and up -
This Is Your Time
Civil rights icon Ruby Bridges--who, at the age of six, was the first black child to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans--inspires readers and calls for action in her moving letter. This elegant, memorable gift book is especially poignant in the wake of Kamala Harris making US history as the first female, first Black and first South Asian vice president-elect.
Written as a letter from civil rights activist and icon Ruby Bridges to the reader, THIS IS YOUR TIME is both a recounting of Ruby's experience as a child who had no choice but to be escorted to class by federal marshals when she was chosen as one of the first black students to integrate New Orleans' all-white public school system and an appeal to generations to come to effect change.
This beautifully designed volume features historical photographs from the 1960s and from today, as well as stunning jacket art from "The Problem We All Live With," the 1964 painting by Norman Rockwell of Ruby's walk to school.
Ruby's honest and impassioned words, imbued with love and grace, serve as a moving reminder that what can inspire tomorrow often lies in our past. THIS IS YOUR TIME will electrify people of all ages as the struggle for liberty and justice for all continues, and the powerful legacy of Ruby Bridges endures.
Target age group 10 and up -
What Was the Harlem Renaissance? (What Was?)
In this book from the #1 New York Times best-selling series, learn how this vibrant Black neighborhood in upper Manhattan became home to the leading Black writers, artists, and musicians of the 1920s and 1930s.
Travel back in time to the 1920s and 1930s to the sounds of jazz in nightclubs and the 24-hours-a-day bustle of the famous Black neighborhood of Harlem in uptown Manhattan. It was a dazzling time when there was an outpouring of the arts of African Americans--the poetry of Langston Hughes; the novels of Zora Neale Hurston; the sculptures of Augusta Savage and that brand-new music called jazz as only Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong could play it.
Author Sherri Smith traces Harlem's history all the way to its seventeenth-century roots, and explains how the early-twentieth-century Great Migration brought African Americans from the deep South to New York City and gave birth to the golden years of the Harlem Renaissance. With 80 fun black-and-white illustrations and an engaging 16-page photo insert, readers will be excited to read this latest addition to Who HQ!
Target age group 8-11 -
Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations
"Sing a Song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us.
Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us."
In Jacksonville, Florida, two brothers, one of them the principal of a segregated, all-black school, wrote the song "Lift Every Voice and Sing" so his students could sing it for a tribute to Abraham Lincoln's birthday in 1900. From that moment on, the song has provided inspiration and solace for generations of Black families. Mothers and fathers passed it on to their children who sang it to their children and grandchildren. Known as the Black National Anthem, it has been sung during major moments of the Civil Rights Movement and at family gatherings and college graduations.
Inspired by this song's enduring significance, Kelly Starling Lyons and Keith Mallett tell a story about the generations of families who gained hope and strength from the song's inspiring words.
A CCBC Choice
A Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People
An ALSC Notable Children's Book
"Lyons delivers the history of a song that has inspired generations of African-Americans to persist and resist in the face of racism and systemic oppression... A heartfelt history of a historic anthem." --Publishers Weekly
Target age group 5-8 -
Remember Little Rock: The Time, the People, the Stories (Remember)
Just over 50 years ago, in Little Rock, Arkansas, nine brave black students stood up for their rights and made history. The integration of Central High School in Little Rock changed the course of education in America forever, and became one of the pivotal points in the Civil Rights Movement.
In REMEMBER LITTLE ROCK award-winning author Paul Robert Walker uses eyewitness accounts and on-the-scene news photography to take a fresh look at a time of momentous consequence in U.S. history. Here, we get the story from all sides: the students directly involved; their fellow students, black and white; parents on both sides; military, police, and government officials. The author uses personal interviews with many of those who attended the 50th anniversary celebration in 2007, and explores what happened, what's changed, what hasn't, and why.
This latest addition to National Geographic's popular "Remember" series also includes a timeline of the Civil Rights Movement, selected postscripts, a guide to resources, and an extensive index. The foreword to this inspiring book is written by Terrence J. Roberts, Ph.D., one of the Little Rock Nine.
National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.
Target age group 10-14 -
What Is the Civil Rights Movement? (What Was?)
Relive the moments when African Americans fought for equal rights, and made history.
Even though slavery had ended in the 1860s, African Americans were still suffering under the weight of segregation a hundred years later. They couldn't go to the same schools, eat at the same restaurants, or even use the same bathrooms as white people. But by the 1950s, black people refused to remain second-class citizens and were willing to risk their lives to make a change.
Author Sherri L. Smith brings to life momentous events through the words and stories of people who were on the frontlines of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.
This book also features the fun black-and-white illustrations and engaging 16-page photo insert that readers have come love about the "What Was?" series!
Target age group 8-12 -
Who Was Jackie Robinson? (Who Was...?)
As a kid, Jackie Robinson loved sports. And why not? He was a natural at football, basketball, and, of course, baseball. But beyond athletic skill, it was his strength of character that secured his place in sports history.
In 1947 Jackie joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the long-time color barrier in major league baseball. It was tough being first- not only did "fans" send hate mail but some of his own teammates refused to accept him.
Here is an inspiring sports biography, with black-and-white illustrations throughout.
Target age group 8-12 -
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre
Celebrated author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Floyd Cooper provide a powerful look at the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in our nation's history. The book traces the history of African Americans in Tulsa's Greenwood district and chronicles the devastation that occurred in 1921 when a white mob attacked the Black community.
News of what happened was largely suppressed, and no official investigation occurred for seventy-five years. This picture book sensitively introduces young readers to this tragedy and concludes with a call for a better future.
Target age group 8-12 -
Compton Cowboys: And the Fight to Save Their Horse Ranch (Young Readers Edition)
In this young readers' edition, a rising New York Times reporter tells the compelling story of the Compton Cowboys, a group of African-American men and women who defy stereotypes and continue the proud, centuries-old tradition of black cowboys in the heart of one of America's most notorious cities.
In Compton, California, ten black riders on horseback cut an unusual profile, their cowboy hats tilted against the hot Los Angeles sun. They are the Compton Cowboys, their small ranch one of the very last in a formerly semirural area of the city that has been home to African-American horse riders for decades.
To most people, Compton is known only as the home of rap greats NWA and Kendrick Lamar, hyped in the media for its seemingly intractable gang violence. But in 1988 Mayisha Akbar founded The Compton Jr. Posse to provide local youth with a safe alternative to the streets, one that connected them with the rich legacy of black cowboys in American culture. From Mayisha's youth organization came the Cowboys of today: black men and women from Compton for whom the ranch and the horses provide camaraderie, respite from violence, healing from trauma, and recovery from incarceration.
The Cowboys include Randy, Mayisha's nephew, faced with the daunting task of remaking the Cowboys for a new generation; Anthony, former drug dealer and inmate, now a family man and mentor, Keiara, a single mother pursuing her dream of winning a national rodeo championship, and a tight clan of twentysomethings--Kenneth, Keenan, Charles, and Tre--for whom horses bring the freedom, protection, and status that often elude the young black men of Compton.
THE COMPTON COWBOYS is a story about trauma and transformation, race and identity, compassion, and ultimately, belonging. Walter Thompson-Hernández paints a unique and unexpected portrait of this city, pushing back against stereotypes to reveal an urban community in all its complexity, tragedy, and triumph.
In addition to reading about the Compton Cowboys, kids will get to see them and the horses that saved their lives. This book includes an 8-page insert of color photos by the author, Whiting Grant winner and New York Times reporter Walter Thompson-Hernández.
Target age group 8-12
