OBD Black History Month (February) - YOUTH

When Harriet Tubman was born enslaved in Dorchester County, Maryland in 1822, nobody knew this tiny Black girl-child would be so rooted in the natural world. Nobody knew she would find her way by the stars or move through the woods as silently as an owl or hear God speaking to her in trances. Nobody knew that, against all odds, she would use her oneness with the environment and spirit to escape the brutality that was slavery, rescue hundreds of others...

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. Ruby's honest and impassioned words, imbued with love and grace,...

"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...

"America, do you love me? A single question from a single child multiplies across the country with every page turn, inviting in more and more children of color--and their questions"-- Provided by publisher. Includes author's note about growing up as a brown girl, whose grandmother and great-grandmother spoke Louisiana Creole, reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with her class every morning.

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.

"Before the Ships is a powerful and poetic celebration of the early roots of Black history."-- Provided by publisher.

"A child reflects on the meaning of being Black in this anthem about a people, a culture, a history, and a legacy that lives on"-- Provided by publisher. Includes historical and cultural notes, song list, and two poems.

"New York Times bestselling author and first black female American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland offers advice for on and off the dance floor to young readers based on letters she's received over the years from fans. As the first African American principal female dancer at American Ballet Theatre, Misty Copeland has spent most of her career navigating a white-dominated industry that puts many barriers in her path. Through it all,...

"A high school student whose promising basketball career is in jeopardy discovers the triumphs and hardships of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's life as a social justice advocate"-- Provided by publisher.

"̇Based on the electric and historic appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, this poetic picture book from powerhouse jessica Care moore outlines the dreams of a young girl who wants to change the world one day. Regardless of the obstacles put into place, her crown shines brightly. A love letter to the Black women pioneers of the past and to the next little girl who will one day be crowned, this melodic anthem, with luminous illustrations...