To continue our monthly series of book lists for our young readers, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library would like to recommend the following fiction and nonfiction titles in remembrance of African-American History Month.
A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman by David A. Adler.
Biography of the black woman who escaped from slavery to become famous as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Grades 2-4. Color illustrations with texts in large print and on braille interleaves. BRC 300.
Malcolm X by Arnold Adoff.
A biography of the assassinated black leader who increased America’s awareness of the beauty, dignity, and pride of being black. For grades 3-5. Large Print 8898 and Braille 1802.
My Black Me: A Beginning Book of Black Poetry by Arnold Adoff, Ed.
A collection of reflective poems on being black by such authors as Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, Nikki Giovanni, and Imamu Amiri Baraka. For grades 5-8 and older readers. Braille 3093.
To continue our monthly series of book lists for our young readers, the Washington Talking Book & Braille Library would like to recommend the following fiction and nonfiction titles in remembrance of African-American History Month.
Rum, Slaves and Molasses: The Story of New England's Triangular T by Clifford Lindsey Alderman.
A comprehensive account discusses the social and economic background of the triangular slave trade between New England, West Africa, and the West Indies. Also describes how the slaves were captured, traded, transported, and exploited. For grades 6-9. RC 8945.
The Murder of Emmett Till by David Aretha.
Discusses the murder of fourteen-year-old Emmett Till, an African American who breached Mississippi’s racial caste system in 1955 by flirting with a white woman. Examines the racial injustice that existed, worldwide reactions to the killers’ acquittal, and the repercussions on civil rights. For junior and senior high readers. 2008. Braille 18201.
Race: A History Beyond Black and White by Marc Aronson.
Focuses on the history of race and racism in the West from Greek civilization to modern times. Discusses prejudice, slavery, religion, and the complex social problems that arise from judging people by their skin color or beliefs. For junior and senior high readers. 2007. Braille 17560, DB 66040, RC 66040.
The Black Muslims by William H. Banks.
Traces the history of organized African American nationalism, including the work of Marcus Garvey and Noble Drew. Describes the Nation of Islam’s development from Wallace Fard and Elijah Muhammad through Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan. Looks at the 1995 Million Man March. For junior and senior high readers. 1997. DB 53679 and RC 53679.
Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement by Ann Bausum.
Recounts how Jim Lewis, a black seminarian who became a Congressman, and Jim Zwerg, a white college student, rode buses with white and black passengers through the segregated South in 1961. Describes the violence and hatred they faced to promote racial equality. Some strong language. For grades 6-9. 2006. DB 62902 and RC 62902.
Portraits of African-American Heroes by Tonya Bolden.
Profiles of twenty African Americans whose talents changed the artistic, political, and social fabric of the United States. Includes abolitionist Fredrick Douglass, Arctic explorer Matthew Henson, daredevil aviatrix Bessie Coleman, Supreme Court judge Thurgood Marshall, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, and master trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, among others. For grades 4-7. 2003. DB 62029 and RC 62029.
Up Close: W.E.B. Du Bois by Tonya Bolden.
Biography of African American activist, poet, and scholar William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868-1963). Discusses his earning a PhD from Harvard University and his commitment to racial equality, justice, and world peace in the context of segregation, the Jim Crow laws, and two world wars. For grades 6-9. 2008. Braille 18318.
Kwanzaa Karamu: Cooking and Crafts for a Kwanzaa Feast by April A. Brady.
Explains the meaning of this African American celebration. Provides recipes for children and adults to prepare together for the feast and instructions for making decorations and gifts. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 1995. DB 60693 and RC 60693.
Martin Luther King Day by Linda Lowery.
Born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King, Jr., became a minister and a civil rights leader. His nonviolent opposition to racial segregation included marches, boycotts, sit-ins, speeches, and the Nobel Peace Prize. For grades 2-4. Braille 6943 and RC 26069.
A Picture Book of Harriet Tubman by David A. Adler
Biography of the black woman who escaped from slavery to become famous as a conductor on the Underground Railroad. Grades 2-4. Color illustrations with texts in large print and on braille interleaves. Braille Book BRC 300.
Malcolm X by Arnold Adoff
A biography of the assassinated black leader who increased America’s awareness of the beauty, dignity, and pride of being black. For grades 3-5. Large Print LP 8898.
My Black Me: A Beginning Book of Black Poetry by Arnold Adoff, Ed.
A collection of reflective poems on being black by such authors as Langston Hughes, Lucille Clifton, Nikki Giovanni, and Imamu Amiri Baraka. For grades 5-8 and older readers. Braille Book BR 3093.
Rum, Slaves and Molasses: The Story of New England's Triangular T by Clifford Lindsey Alderman
A comprehensive account discusses the social and economic background of the triangular slave trade between New England, West Africa, and the West Indies. Also describes how the slaves were captured, traded, transported, and exploited. For grades 6-9. Cassette Book RC 8945.
Getting Away with Murder: The True Story of the Emmett Till Case by Chris Crowe
Account of a fourteen-year-old African American boy from Chicago who was murdered in 1955 while visiting relatives in Mississippi. Emmett Till, accused of flirting with a white woman, was subsequently killed by her husband and brother-in-law, who escaped punishment. Some violence and some strong language. For senior high and older readers. 2003. Cassette Book RC 57157. Digital Book DB 57157 is available as a downloadable digital book from BARD: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.57157.
Race: A History Beyond Black and White by Marc Aronson
Focuses on the history of race and racism in the West from Greek civilization to modern times. Discusses prejudice, slavery, religion, and the complex social problems that arise from judging people by their skin color or beliefs. For junior and senior high readers. 2007. Braille Book BR 17560, Cassette Book RC 66040. Digital Book DB 66040 is available as a downloadable digital book from BARD: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.66040.
The Black Muslims by William H. Banks
Traces the history of organized African American nationalism, including the work of Marcus Garvey and Noble Drew. Describes the Nation of Islam’s development from Wallace Fard and Elijah Muhammad through Malcolm X and Louis Farrakhan. Looks at the 1995 Million Man March. For junior and senior high readers. 1997. Cassette Book RC 53679. Digital Book DB 53679 is available as a downloadable digital book from BARD: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.53679.
Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement by Ann Bausum
Recounts how Jim Lewis, a black seminarian who became a Congressman, and Jim Zwerg, a white college student, rode buses with white and black passengers through the segregated South in 1961. Describes the violence and hatred they faced to promote racial equality. Some strong language. For grades 6-9. 2006. Cassette Book RC 62902. Digital Book DB 62902 is available as a downloadable digital book from BARD: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.62902.
Portraits of African-American Heroes by Tonya Bolden
Profiles of twenty African Americans whose talents changed the artistic, political, and social fabric of the United States. Includes abolitionist Fredrick Douglass, Arctic explorer Matthew Henson, daredevil aviatrix Bessie Coleman, Supreme Court judge Thurgood Marshall, Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, and master trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie, among others. For grades 4-7. 2003. Cassette Book RC 62029. Digital Book DB 62029 is available as a downloadable digital book from BARD: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.62029.
Up Close: W.E.B. Du Bois by Tonya Bolden
Biography of African American activist, poet, and scholar William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868-1963). Discusses his earning a PhD from Harvard University and his commitment to racial equality, justice, and world peace in the context of segregation, the Jim Crow laws, and two world wars. For grades 6-9. 2008. Braille Book BR 18318.
Kwanzaa Karamu: Cooking and Crafts for a Kwanzaa Feast by April A. Brady
Explains the meaning of this African American celebration. Provides recipes for children and adults to prepare together for the feast and instructions for making decorations and gifts. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 1995. Cassette Book RC 60693. Digital Book DB 60693 is available as a downloadable digital book from BARD: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.nls/db.60693.
Martin Luther King Day by Linda Lowery
Born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, Martin Luther King, Jr., became a minister and a civil rights leader. His nonviolent opposition to racial segregation included marches, boycotts, sit-ins, speeches, and the Nobel Peace Prize. For grades 2-4. Braille Book BR 6943 and Cassette Book RC 26069.