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The landmark play A Raisin in the Sun takes its title from a Langston Hughes poem which poses the questions "What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?" Focusing on a working-class African-American family in Chicago who save enough to purchase either a business in a black neighborhood or a house in a white neighborhood, the plays exposes issues of racism and gender as the women of the family make important decisions that push against both racial and gender lines. This volume discusses gender in the play, looking at how the female characters fight both racism and male chauvinism, how the play is dominated by strong female characters, and how characters resist the stereotype of the emasculating female. The book also presents contemporary perspectives on race and feminism in the twenty-first century. Contributors include Barbara Ehrenreich, Jewelle L. Gomez, and Sharon Friedman.

African American History/Interest

African American History/Interest

This compelling edition presents a collection of essays on issues about women that are depicted in Alice Walker's The Color Purple. The book examines Walker's life and influences and offers readers a series of essays for consideration on topics such as the revision of traditional gender roles and folk art as a means of survival. Readers are also offered contemporary perspectives on topics related to women's issues such as the impact of domestic violence and feminist ideology.

African American History/Interest

This compelling volume examines Zora Neale Hurston's life and writings, with a specific look at key ideas related to Their Eyes Were Watching God. Essays discuss a variety of topics, including whether the novel can be viewed as an example for all women, whether it still relevant today, and whether it proves that romantic fantasies cannot last. The book also explores contemporary perspectives on women's issues, such as the idea of women creating their own model of a female hero and the impact of white stereotypes on modern black women.

African American History/Interest

This informative edition explores the poetry of Langston Hughes through the lens of race. Coverage includes an examination of Hughes's life and influences; a look at key ideas related to race in Hughes's poetry, including the influence of African-American music, the use of poetry to address racial problems, and the politics of Hughes's anti-lynching poems; and contemporary perspectives on race, such as the decline of civil rights reform and the role of hip-hop in shaping black music.

African American History/Interest

Author Jeff C. Young provides short biographies of ten influential African-American actors. Readers will learn about the challenges and triumphs of actors such as Ossie Davis and Halle Berry. Each short biography ends with a brief timeline of the person's life and achievements.

African American History/Interest

African American History/Interest

This cool book explores the lives of eight of the most important jazz musicians in history. Readers will learn about the challenges and triumphs of musicians such as Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald. Each short biography ends with a brief timeline of the person's life and achievements.

African American History/Interest

African American History/Interest

Do your readers know who the first published African-American poet is? Phillis Wheatley, a slave, published her most famous book of poetry in 1773, while traveling in England. Readers will learn about her life, and the lives of seven other amazing poets. Each short biography ends with a brief timeline of the person's life and achievements.

Bill Pickett urged his horse forward chasing after the speedy steer. Like an acrobat, Pickett jumped onto the steer's back, grabbing it by the horns. In the same motion, he twisted the steer's neck up and bit its upper lip with his teeth. Instantly, he had the steer on the ground as the crowd roared in delight. Bill Pickett invented this exciting event, known as bulldogging. Despite the racism he faced as an African-American cowboy, Pickett entertained rodeo crowds around the world. Authors William R. Sanford and Carl R. Green explore the life of this courageous rodeo superstar.

Thousands of courageous African Americans escaped from slavery in the South along what became known as "The Underground Railroad." The railroad provided a secret way to transport slaves to freedom in the Northern states and Canada. Author Kem Knapp Sawyer captures the courage and determination of many fugitives who traveled the Underground Railroad to freedom. Knapp brings the dangers faced by escaped slaves and those who helped them along the way into detailed focus. The success of the Underground Railroad shows the resolve of many whites and blacks to end slavery in the United States.

African American History/Interest

The Civil War began as a struggle to reunite a divided nation, and it became a fight to end slavery. For African-American soldiers, the cause was always greater, freedom. African Americans had been enslaved in the United States for more than two hundred years. Slavery had fractured the nation into two parts, North and South. Through primary sources, author Carin T. Ford explores the brave African-American soldiers who helped the Union win the Civil War and abolish slavery forever.

African American History/Interest

In 1619, the first African slaves arrived in America. More than two hundred years later, African-American slaves continued to suffer under the cruelest and harshest conditions in the South. Slaves tried to escape, but it was difficult. However, during the mid-1800s, the Underground Railroad, a secret network of people and escape routes, finally gave many slaves hope. It helped thousands reach freedom. Author Carin T. Ford discusses the tragic story of slavery in American history, the heroes of the Underground Railroad, and the end of slavery in the United States.

African American History/Interest

If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong. When Abraham Lincoln said this, many Americans did not agree. Most of them lived in the South, where their economy depended on slave labor. In 1861, the year Lincoln became president, the conflict over slavery became a war between a divided nation. Although the Civil War was fought to reunite that nation, Lincoln eventually saw the greater cause: ending slavery forever in the United States. In striving to achieve this ultimate goal, President Lincoln took the most important first step, the Emancipation Proclamation.

African American History/Interest

Despite being a slave, Frederick Douglass learned to read and write. At age 21, he escaped from slavery and created a new life for himself as a free man. Intelligent and charismatic, Douglass became the leading voice against slavery in the 1800s. "There is no way a nation can call itself free and accept slavery," he said. The McKissacks' lively, easy-to-read text highlights the importance of this internationally known author and orator.

George Washington Carver spent his life asking questions and looking for the answers. He gained a reputation as the farmers' best friend after teaching about crop rotation. He told farmers to grow peanuts and sweet potatoes to "rest" their soil between cotton crops. And what could they do with all those peanuts? Carver developed more than 300 peanut-based products, from milk to printers' ink, and more than 100 ways to use sweet potatoes. Young children love the story of this exceptional inventor.

Ida B. Wells-Barnett rose from her roots in slavery to become an outspoken voice for her people. She was an important and influential journalist at a time in history when few women had careers. Using the power of her writing, she launched the first anti-lynching campaign and gained worldwide attention for this cause. Readers will love the story of this exceptional talent.

African American History/Interest

Vivien Theodore Thomas was an African-American surgical technician who developed the procedures used to treat blue baby syndrome in the 1940s. He was an assistant to surgeon Alfred Blalock in Blalock's experimental animal laboratory at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee and later at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Without any education past high school, Thomas rose above poverty and racism to become a cardiac surgery pioneer and a teacher of operative techniques to many of the country's most prominent surgeons. Vivien Thomas was the first African American without a doctorate to perform open heart surgery on a white patient in the United States.

Walter Dean Myers tells it like it is in his award-winning novels about urban teenagers with real problems. With humor and a keen ear for dialogue, Myers creates characters that speak directly to today's teens. As a young reader, Myers could not find books about African-American boys like himself. Drawing upon his own struggles and experiences, he has filled that literary gap with fascinating novels filled with realistic stories that appeal to readers of all backgrounds and cultures.

Winfrey is smart, funny, compassionate, talented, and one of the richest and most powerful women in the world. Whether she was talking about her childhood experiences of abuse and rebellion, her lifelong struggle with weight, her favorite books, or her Angel Network of good deeds, the world was listening. How did Winfrey reach this pinnacle of success? Author Robin Westen has gathered the most compelling stories and quotes for this fun-to-read, information-packed biography.

Harlem, New York in the early 1920's and 1930's was the backdrop for an outpouring exploration of black identity through music, writing, poetry and social commentary. This period in history became known as the Harlem Renaissance. Ignited by a great migration from the rural South to the industrial North, the Harlem Renaissance celebrated unique aspects of African American culture and attracted audiences around the world. Author Wendy Hart examines the appeal of this era and the people who took part in it. James Weldon Johnson, Alain LeRoy Locke, Zora Neale Hurston, Bessie Smith, Aaron Douglas, Duke Ellington, Langston Hughes, Arna Bontemps, Countee Cullen, and Josephine Baker are profiled.

What is a popular kind of music that originated in the United States? The answer is Jazz. Mixing folk and blues influences, talented artists from Scott Joplin to Wynton Marsalis have kept jazz at the forefront of the American music scene. The musicians portrayed in this book played different instruments and had different styles, but all helped keep jazz fresh and new. Readers follow ten prominent jazz musicians (Scott Joplin, Daniel Louis Armstrong, Edward Kennedy Ellington, Mary Lou Williams, Benjamin David Goodman, John Birks Gillespie, Charles Christopher Parker, Jr., Miles Dewey Davis, III, John Coltrane, and Wynton Marsalis) through their many successes and varied hardships.

It is the early 1860s. Slavery is legal in the United States. Brave slaves try to escape to freedom along the secret "Underground Railroad," but they don't always make it. What would you do? Would you help and protect the slaves from the slave catchers or would you follow the law? Readers will find out what they would do through this compelling narrative.

One of the first singles from The Black Album, a famous Jay-Z record, rap "What More Can I Say"? But the real question is what more can this music legend do? From the platinum albums to the sold-out concerts to his Rocawear clothing brand, Jay-Z has done it all. He has sold some 50 million albums worldwide. He even has a sneaker named after him. From the Brooklyn projects to the corner office in Manhattan, Jay-Z made his own way, overcoming many obstacles. Author Jeff Burlingame explores the remarkably interesting life of this hip-hop icon.

And the contestant going home is...Jennifer Hudson. Standing on the American Idol stage, a shocked Hudson found out she had been voted off the famed singing competition, but unlike many Idol contestants whose musical dreams end on that stage, Jennifer Hudson was just getting started. Her rapid rise to superstardom saw her win an Academy Award and a Grammy Award in only a few years. Author John Micklos, Jr., explores the life of this multi-talented music idol.

The Story of the Civil Rights Movement in Photographs

African American History/Interest

In Montgomery, Alabama, segregation was a way of life for African Americans. Rosa Parks, riding the bus after a long day of work, was tired of it. When the bus driver demanded Parks leave her seat for a white man, she refused. The police arrested her. Her courage ignited a boycott of Montgomery's buses, one of the great protests that sparked the Civil Rights Movement. Through dramatic primary source photographs, author David Aretha explores this pivotal moment in American history.

The Story of the Civil Rights Movement in Photographs

African American History/Interest

In September 1957, nine brave African-American students attempted to do something that had not been done in the segregated South, integrate a public school. Until 1957, black students could not attend school with white students, and black schools were often inferior to white schools. However, in the face of hatred, protest, and violence, these courageous students, who came to be known as the Little Rock Nine, led the charge for change. Through riveting primary source photographs, author David Aretha examines this critical time in the Civil Rights Movement.

The Story of the Civil Rights Movement in Photographs

African American History/Interest

Martin Luther King, Jr., called Birmingham, Alabama, the most segregated city in America. In 1963, he and other civil rights leaders believed it was time to change that. With marches and protests throughout the city, civil rights activists hoped the movement would draw national attention. Hundreds of young African Americans joined the cause, marching for equal rights. Angry segregationists reacted, violently. And it would play out in newspapers and on television screens across the country. Through dramatic primary source photographs, author David Aretha explores this crucial struggle of the Civil Rights Movement.

The Story of the Civil Rights March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Photographs

The Story of the Civil Rights Movement in Photographs

African American History/Interest

On August 28, 1963, more than 250,000 people descended on Washington, D.C. They came by bus, car, and bicycle. Some even walked hundreds of miles to be there. On that day, the massive crowd gathered to march, protest, sing, and support the Civil Rights Movement and to demonstrate that the time had come to end segregation in the South. To a captivated audience, Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke of his "dream," when African Americans would have equal rights. Through vivid primary source photographs, author David Aretha explores the "greatest demonstration for freedom" in American history.

The Story of the Civil Rights Movement in Photographs

African American History/Interest

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a momentous victory for civil rights activists, but one major obstacle remained in the path toward equal rights for African Americans: the right to vote. In the South, segregationists prevented African Americans from voting. Civil rights leaders believed it was time for strong action and chose Selma, Alabama, as the rallying point. There, the marches and protests captured the nation's attention. Through gripping primary source photographs, author David Aretha explores this important time in American history.

The North had won the Civil War and reunited the Union. African-American slaves were freed and made citizens. The South was in ruins. The period after the Civil War was a troubled time for the United States. Known as Reconstruction, the South, which had fought for its independence, was bitter. Former slaves were freed, made citizens, and granted the right to vote, but still faced terrible discrimination. Author Marsha Ziff highlights the people and events involved in this turbulent period, examining the frustration and the determination of African Americans as they began their journey out of the ruins of slavery and the Civil War toward freedom and equality.

African American History/Interest

In 1954, the Supreme Court rejected the notion of "separate but equal" facilities in the famous Brown v. Board of Education decision. Highlighting the efforts of both blacks and whites to promote racial equality in the face of violent attempts to preserve white supremacy, Author David K. Fremon shows how segregation made the South a caste system. He traces the history of racial discrimination from the end of the Civil War through the Jim Crow era of segregation. After years of enduring separate facilities, including water fountains, telephone books, hospitals, and cemeteries, for whites and blacks, Fremon shows how African Americans and their white supporters were eventually able to win the battle for equal rights.

African American History/Interest

Benjamin Banneker, born in 1731, was a man ahead of his time. As a free African American in a time of slavery, Banneker was not welcome in white society, and he spent most of his life on his Maryland farm. There he harnessed his keen and curious intellect to teach himself complex mathematics and astronomy. Banneker secured a place in history with his role in surveying the site for the capital city, Washington D.C., and his published almanacs with precise tide calculations and weather predictions. Also, Banneker himself was one of the first African Americans to speak out against slavery. Banneker's accomplishments were used by abolitionists as proof of the intellectual powers of his race.

African American History/Interest

From an early age, Bessie Coleman dreamed of flying, but racial bigotry and gender bias threatened to keep her grounded. Denied entrance to flight training school in the United States, Coleman went to Europe. She returned, triumphant, with a pilot's license and hopes of opening a flight school for African Americans. Author Connie Plantz captures all the tension and excitement of Coleman's soaring achievements. Raising funds as a stunt pilot, "Brave Bessie" thrilled her audiences with aerial tricks. Coleman's life ended in a tragic accident, but not before her dream of flight made aviation history.

African American History/Interest

Carter G. Woodson, born just ten years after the Civil War ended, grew up in the lingering shadow of slavery. The son of former slaves, Woodson became the first scholar of African-American history, creating this field of university study. He was also the creator of Negro History Week, which has now grown into Black History Month, celebrated nationwide. The life and career of this pioneering historian are detailed in this book.

African American History/Interest

Duke Ellington's brilliance as a jazz composer; bandleader; and pianist has never been equaled. The winner of eleven Grammy Awards, Duke Ellington, achieved success in New York's Cotton Club, wrote musical scores for stage plays, movies, and even composed his own short opera. This book offers a fascinating look at the life and career of a music legend.

Despite being a slave, Douglass learned to read and write. At age 21, he escaped from slavery and forged a new life for himself as a free man. Intelligent and charismatic, Douglass became the leading voice against slavery in the 1800s. "There is no way a nation can call itself free and accept slavery," said Frederick Douglass. Middle-grade readers and up will respond to Anne Schraff's fresh, lively retelling of Douglass' story.

African American History/Interest

Sorting myth from truth in this amazing tale of courage and heroism, Anne Schraff breathes new life into the story of the most famous "conductor" on the Underground Railroad. "I grew up like a neglected weed, ignorant of liberty, having no experience of it. Now I've been free, I know what a dreadful condition slavery is." Harriet Tubman ran away from slavery in 1849, walking one hundred miles to freedom in the North. For the next sixteen years, Tubman risked her newfound freedom, and her life, to help about three hundred other slaves escape. During the Civil War, Tubman worked as a nurse and a scout for the Union army, and in her later years, she joined the struggle for the education of her people and for women's rights.

African American History/Interest

Music has been in my blood from the day I was born, said Louis Armstrong. Author Wendie C. Old weaves a rich, colorful tapestry of the life of this beloved and brilliant musician known to his fans as Satchmo. Louis Armstrong rose from poverty and a troubled childhood to set the music world on fire with his lively trumpet playing and trademark raspy singing voice. With a natural talent for showmanship, Armstrong won fame while touring around the world, and proved to be one of the most extraordinary performers of the Jazz Age and beyond.

So, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream… These now famous words were spoken by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., during the March on Washington in 1963. The many historic milestones of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s, life are examined in this informative biography. Examining the civil rights leader's life from his birth in Atlanta, winning the Nobel Peace Prize, the march to Selma, his "I Have a Dream" speech, and his assassination.

African American History/Interest

African American History/Interest

I know why the caged bird sings, wrote Paul Laurence Dunbar in "Sympathy," one of his best-loved poems. Author Catherine Reef paints a rich and memorable portrait of the first African American to earn his living as a writer. Born in 1872 to former slaves, Dunbar touched the nation with poetry that portrayed the sorrows and the joys of African-American life. Dunbar's work spoke directly to the hearts of his readers, and his legacy inspired the generation of African-American poets who followed.

African American History/Interest

Paul Robeson, born 1898, was a two-time All-American football player and a law-school graduate in an era that offered few opportunities for African-Americans. He went on to win international acclaim as a singer and actor, breaking through barriers both on stage and in his life. Author David K. Wright tells the story of an exceptional entertainer who devoted his life to the causes of civil rights and equality. Robeson refused to compromise his integrity or to be told what African-Americans could or could not do. Robeson's career as a singer and actor suffered when the U.S. government accused him of being a communist.

Astrophysicist, cosmologist, and author, Neil deGrasse Tyson has devoted his life to understanding the universe and helping others do the same. He is an activist, an educator, and a television personality. Let his passion for making science fun inspire the scientist in you.

African American History/Interest

Through simple, informational text supported by black-and-white and color illustrations, readers will learn about Crispus Attucks, who had an exciting life at sea before going down in history as the first casualty of the Boston Massacre. A Words to Know section at the beginning of the book prepares students to understand the vocabulary they encounter in the text, and quotations about Attucks demonstrate how he inspired generations of Americans long after his death.

Toni Morrison has received the Nobel Prize for Literature, the Pulitzer Prize, and many other awards. But in order to fully appreciate what this amazing author has accomplished, students must know where she came from, the era in which she grew up, and how these details influenced the major themes, style, and language of her writing. Through critical analysis, excerpts, and direct quotations from Morrison herself, this text will allow readers to gain a deeper understanding of her work.

African American History/Interest

Abolitionist, author, and human rights activist Sojourner Truth was born a slave and fought her whole life to abolish slavery. Readers will learn about one of the first feminists through intriguing narrative, easy-to-comprehend information, black-and-white and color images, and direct quotations.

African American History/Interest

Slavery didn’t end without an organized and impassioned struggle. Through source documents, images, and engaging text, students will learn the story of those abolitionists and slave resisters who fought against a system they believed was inhumane and morally wrong.

African American History/Interest

African American History/Interest

Once slavery ended and emancipation was granted to slaves in the United States, African Americans did not suddenly find true independence and equality as they had dreamed. Instead many struggled to correct centuries-old attitudes that they were inferior to whites. Through excerpts from source documents, images, and riveting narrative, students will learn about the struggle and the rise of many in the black community to positions of power and importance in America.

This fascinating volume explores everyday life for slaves in America. Readers will learn about the various duties that slaves were responsible for conducting, their relationships with their masters, and the ways they found to cope with the humiliating and demoralizing lives they were captured into. Contextual information about how the practice of slavery began, how slaves contributed to the southern economy, and how the institution was finally destroyed rounds out this informative resource.

African American History/Interest

It is difficult for the modern student to truly understand how America could have supported slavery. This volume, containing primary source first-person accounts, allows readers to learn directly from the people of the time. Through their words—some hateful, others inspiring—students will develop a fuller understanding of this chapter in American history.

African American History/Interest

This captivating and inspirational volume of biographies celebrates the lives of those who railed against slavery. Beginning with an overview of the institution, the narrative turns to biographical examinations of escaped slaves turned social activists, supporters of the Underground Railroad, political activists, journalists, and militant advocates. Readers will understand how the brave contributions of these individuals helped bring about the end of slavery in America.

African American History/Interest

Born Wardell Stephen Curry II on March 14, 1988, in Akron, Ohio, Stephen Curry may be the best shooter in NBA history. He is an NBA champion, an MVP, and a player at the top of his game, and he uses his stardom to give back to the community. Readers will be fascinated by the story of this tremendous athlete, told with simple text and supplemented with color photos. A Words to Know section helps prepare readers for vocabulary in the text, and quotes from Curry himself allow readers to connect with this basketball star.

African American History/Interest

In 2015, Misty Copeland was named principal ballerina of the American Ballet Theatre, the first African American to earn the title in the ballet company’s history. She has danced all over the country, on Broadway, and on television, but she had to break many barriers to do it, including racism and poverty. Through simple text and vivid photos, readers will appreciate Copeland’s struggles and will learn about her dedication to promoting diversity in ballet. A Words to Know section helps readers with new vocabulary, and quotations by Copeland shed light on this talented woman.

African American History/Interest

Serena Williams is considered one of the best female athletes of all time. At age seventeen, she became the first African American woman to win a Grand Slam tournament in forty-one years. Readers will discover that in addition to her prowess on the tennis courts, Williams has also made her mark on the world through charity work with her organization, the Serena Williams Fund, and UNICEF. A Words to Know section prepares readers for any unfamiliar vocabulary they may find in the text, and colorful photographs and direct quotations from Williams help students connect with this extraordinary athlete.

African American History/Interest

China Anne McClain started singing and acting from a young age. A talented musician, who with her sisters formed the pop group McClain, China has also appeared in major motion pictures as well popular television shows. In 2014, she won an Image Award for her work as a young African American actress. Through simple text and colorful photos, readers will be enthralled by McClain’s success story. A Words to Know section in the beginning of the text helps students learn new vocabulary, and direct quotations allow readers to relate to the young star on a deeper level.

African American History/Interest

African American History/Interest

Sharon Draper is a celebrated educator and author. Her readers, from elementary school children to young adults, connect with her characters, who often face real-world challenges such as addiction (in 1995's Tears of a Tiger) and cerebral palsy (in 2010's Out of My Mind). Full of fascinating details, full-color photographs, and insightful quotations from Draper, this simple yet informative text will show readers how a love of books from an early age inspired a young girl to become a writer and teacher who has touched the lives of millions of young people around the world.

Pharrell Williams is a Grammy Award-winning singer, rapper, and record producer. Famous record producer Teddy Riley discovered Williams's group, the Neptunes, in the early 1990s during a high school talent show. Since then, Williams has worked with such chart-topping acts as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and Beyonce. He has launched a clothing line, authored children's picture books, and founded a charity to help underprivileged schools. This cool biography uses vibrant photographs, simple text, and direct quotations from Williams himself to tell the story of his ascension to fame.

African American History/Interest

The United States celebrated the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day on January 20, 1986. There were marches, parades, and candlelight gatherings. Readers will learn about the life and accomplishments of Martin Luther King Jr. and why his birthday was made an official national holiday. This informative resource includes black-and-white and color photos, an easy-to-follow recipe for peach pie, and instructions on how to make a “Circle of Friendship� craft.

African American History/Interest

Growing up poor in a small town in Georgia, Alice Walker became aware of the effects of prejudice and segregation at a young age. She would later call on these early experiences when writing her most famous novel, The Color Purple. But the themes of Walker’s prose and poetry extend far beyond race, including women’s issues, religion, relationships, and culture. This text explores the many themes of her work, as well as her use of characterization, literary devices, and plot. Through biographical information, quotes from the author, excerpts from texts, and critical analysis, readers will obtain a strong appreciation for the life and works of this controversial and esteemed author.

There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you. Maya Angelou's words in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings reveal her own need to tell stories, a lifelong passion that manifested itself in the form of memoirs and poetry as well as essays, film, and music. This in-depth guide utilizes the fascinating life story of Angelou, who was also an educator and activist, as a springboard for exploring the themes, motifs, and literary techniques that characterize her writing. Critical analysis, quotes, and excerpts from a variety of texts provide a compelling examination of Angelou's extensive body of work.

African American History/Interest

African American History/Interest

Martin Luther King Jr. had a dream that, one day, all people would be viewed equally, no matter the color of their skin. And he fought hard for civil rights for African Americans, eventually even giving his life to the cause. This compelling biography explores King’s early life and his activism in his own words within the context of the Jim Crow American South, along with his victories and the way in which he changed our world. Students will be guided through their reading with a glossary of important terms, a timeline of King’s life and important events in the civil rights movement, and resources for further learning.

African American History/Interest

Malcolm X faced many injustices growing up as an African American in the early twentieth century. Funneling his anger over systemic racism into activism, Malcolm X became a leader of the civil rights movement as well as one of the best-known spokesmen for the Nation of Islam. In this engaging biography, students will learn about Malcolm X's trials, tribulations, and victories in the battle for civil rights. Students will be guided through the reading with historical context and primary source documents, as well as a glossary of important words, a timeline, and references for further reading.

Drake began his career as an actor, but his fame skyrocketed when he focused his talents on music. The multiple award-winning singer, songwriter, and rapper is one of the biggest names in hip-hop and rhythm and blues today. Young readers will learn about Drake's career and life through highly accessible text accompanied by a variety of nonfiction text features, including eye-catching, full-color photographs, fact boxes, and direct quotes from Drake himself.

African American History/Interest

Rihanna is known world over as a music icon, but she is more than just a pop princess. Over the past ten years, Rihanna has worked hard to break stereotypes, develop a definitive style, and maintain creative control of her music. In the process, she's won dozens of awards, including eight Grammys. Young readers will learn about the musician and businesswoman's life through easy-to-follow text accompanied by dynamic full-color photographs, as well as direct quotes from Rihanna herself.

African American History/Interest

African American History/Interest

From the top of Everest to the deepest recesses of previously unexplored caves, from the heart of the sea to the far reaches of space, African American explorers and adventurers have helped chart the unknown, push the boundaries of the frontier, scale the heights, and shoot for the stars. With profiles of courageous and pioneering figures like Arctic explorer Matthew Alexander Henson, the Lewis and Clark corpsman York, and pilot Bessie Coleman, this inspiring collection celebrates the often unsung accomplishments of African American whalers, gold rush fortune-seekers, explorers, mountaineers, pilots, and other intrepid adventurers. They overcame injustice, prejudice, and inequality to triumph in expanding our knowledge of the world and our notions of what was possible within it.

African American History/Interest

Imagine a world in which gospel, the blues, jazz, rhythm and blues, and rock 'n' roll didn't exist. These indigenous American musical forms are the product of, and a moving expression of the African American experience. Musical geniuses and innovators like Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Bessie Smith, B. B. King, and Jimi Hendrix turned individual and collective histories of suffering and injustice into soul-stirring, monumental art that shattered boundaries, shifted perceptions, and contributed to progress in civil rights. Their efforts were matched by other African Americans in the entertainment field, like Jackie Robinson, Josephine Baker, and Sidney Poitier. A celebration of music, movies, and a growing movement for equality, this collection will inspire, enlighten, and energize teen readers.

African American History/Interest

Despite inequality of access to education, relentless discrimination, and a starkly segregated society, African American artists and writers have made landmark contributions to American art and literature. Works like A Raisin in the Son, Beloved, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Invisible Man, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings powerfully express the African American experience, expose the injustices of American society, and reveal the hopes, dreams, sorrows, suffering, and enduring achievements of Black America. With profiles of figures like Phillis Wheatley, Langston Hughes, James Baldwin, Rita Dove, Maya Angelou, and Toni Morrison, this collection puts the rich tapestry woven by African American authors and artists on full and breathtaking display.

African American History/Interest

Through centuries of suffering, slavery, inequality, discrimination, segregation, and racist violence, African Americans have endured, resisted, fought, and, increasingly over time, won many battles. These victories were propelled by a groundswell of grassroots action, but they were also motivated and organized by courageous and inspirational leadership. Journalists, abolitionists, educators, religious leaders, politicians, judges, and even schoolchildren showed the world a better way forward and led the way down the very difficult road to greater equality, freedom, and civil rights. This collection profiles the leading lights in the struggle for freedom and equality, including MLK, Coretta Scott King, Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. DuBois, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, and Ruby Bridges, among many others.

African American History/Interest

Though often fighting for a country that did not recognize their rights or even their humanity, African Americans have fought courageously in every American war. Even though they often knew they would return to civilian lives of limited opportunities and unequal treatment, they served their nation with conviction and distinction. This volume offers inspiring profiles of African American service people, from Crispus Attucks, the first casualty of the American Revolution, and the freedom-seeking Loyalists to the renowned 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry of the Civil War. From Buffalo Soldiers to the twenty-first century, readers will be thrilled. Also covered is the nation's first African American commander in chief, Barack Obama.

Give your readers a fascinating biography about one of the most honored and respected actresses in Hollywood. This accessible, easy-to-follow book about Viola Davis provides an engaging timeline of the actress's life. Viola's early years helped shape the roles she chose as an adult. Playing everyday Americans such as wives, mothers, and hired help got her noticed by moviegoers and critics alike, and led to her becoming the only African-American woman to be nominated for three Academy Awards. The engaging text is accompanied by dynamic, full-color photographs, as well as direct quotes from Viola herself.

African American History/Interest

African American History/Interest

Jazz's influence on music in the twentieth century is unparalleled, with derivatives including bebop, funk, hip-hop, psychedelic rock, reggae, Latin soul, and ska. This comprehensive survey of jazz music dives deep into the origins of the genre and explores the history of jazz from its early roots in West African drumming to its modern interpretations. Readers will learn about the defining eras of jazz, pioneering jazz musicians, and the political and historical legacy of this music style.

African American History/Interest

In this informative volume, author Stephen Currie presents readers with an extensive survey of African American literature that covers the history of African American writing and authorship from the oral traditions of the seventeenth century to the publications of the present. Readers will learn about the importance, power, and prevalence of African American literature before, during, and after the Civil War and gain an insight into the way African American literature both shaped, and was shaped by, periods such as the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement.

In the early twentieth century, blues music was developed by African Americans in the Deep South. With roots in spirituals, folk music, work songs, and native music, blues contains a medley of influences that create a distinctive culture and sound. Blues moved north with the Great Migration and influenced many popular forms of music such as bluegrass, rock and roll, and country. This compelling volume details the history of blues music and the careers of major performers. It examines the ways the genre reflects the lives and conditions of African Americans during each period of its development and considers the evolution and resurgence of blues in the present day.

African American History/Interest

African American History/Interest

This compelling volume describes physical landmarks in African American history and discusses the history associated with those places. The book is organized around thematic chapters that take readers on a virtual tour of landmarks associated with the theme while also describing the people and events that inspired the landmarks. Thematic chapters include: The Slavery Era, African Americans Resist Slavery, The Civil War, Education for Blacks, The Civil Rights Movement, and African American Achievers.

Martin Luther King, Jr. wasn't the only influential leader in the King family. His wife Coretta was an important civil rights activist, too. This book introduces readers to Coretta Scott King through her involvement with the African American fight for freedom and her lifelong dedication to equality for all. Filled with historic photographs from the civil rights movement, fascinating facts about her life with Martin Luther King Jr., and a timeline of key events, this book is an important resource for readers learning about civil rights.

African American History/Interest

Malcolm X was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans who led a fascinating, if sadly short, life. From his work for the Nation of Islam to his assassination, this book delicately handles the life of this important civil rights leader with age-appropriate language and content and a timeline for easy reference. Photographs of Malcolm X throughout his life enhance his conversion from militant black leader to peaceful civil rights activist.

African American History/Interest

Martin Luther King Jr. was one of the most influential leaders of civil rights movement in the United States. Including famous quotes from his speeches, stirring photographs from his many public appearances, and a timeline of important events, this book introduces King’s message of nonviolence in an engaging way. Information about King’s involvement in the March on Washington, the Montgomery bus boycott, and other important historical events teaches readers about the civil rights movement, as well as King’s enduring legacy.

African American History/Interest

In 1955, Rosa Parks bravely refused to obey a bus driver who ordered her to give up her seat because she was black. While she is best known for this action that sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott, Parks had actually been involved in civil rights work for years. This book puts Parks’ courageous stance on the bus into the context of her lifelong belief in equality. Readers learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott in detail, review her life’s most important events in a timeline, and appreciate the brave sacrifices of the “first lady of the civil rights movement.�

African American History/Interest

Thurgood Marshall was an important pioneer in the civil rights movement both for his work as the lawyer who helped overturn school segregation and as the first African American on the Supreme Court. In this book, readers explore Marshall’s life through his historical accomplishments which are enhanced by photographs, insightful facts, and a helpful timeline. Marshall never let “separate but equal� stop him, and this book inspires readers to stand up for themselves, too.

African American History/Interest

Gillian Houghton Gosman

Rosa Parks was an ordinary woman who became a driving force in the Civil Rights Movement when she helped spark the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Readers will learn about the boycott and the inspiring figure that Parks became when she decided to no longer tolerate injustice. The book traces her life story while emphasizing lessons in standing up for one's rights.

African American History/Interest

NC1130L

They say true leaders are born, not made. When faced with slavery, oppression, or human rights issues, many men and women are brave enough to do what needs to be done and to step into the role of leading others. For example, Queen Nzinga of the Mbundu people, of present-day Angola, refused to let her country be taken over by the Portuguese and her people enslaved. Not every history-making leader is without controversy, however. Readers can find out more about such leaders as Haile Selassie, Shirley Chisholm, Kofi Annan, Condoleezza Rice, and many more in this fact-filled volume covering the most interesting black rulers and leaders.

African American History/Interest

The African American experience in America has ranged from the horrors of slavery to the election of the first African American president. Readers will uncover fascinating facts along the journey of African American history. This volume explores the discrimination African Americans have faced, highlighting the people and events that have shaped American history.

Jackie Robinson: Baseball Legend is aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts, addressing Literacy.RI.3.8 and Literacy.L.3.6. Readers learn about the life of African-American baseball player Jackie Robinson through full-page photographs and narrative nonfiction text. A timeline of Robinson's life is included. This book should be paired with “Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers" (9781477726310) from the InfoMax Common Core Readers Program to provide the alternative point of view on the same topic.

African American History/Interest

Thurgood Marshall: Supreme Court Justice is aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts, addressing Literacy.RI.3.6 and Literacy.L.3.2c. Thurgood Marshall made history by becoming the first African American Supreme Court justice. This book tells his interesting story, which includes full-page photographs paired with narrative nonfiction text. This book should be paired with “Thurgood Marshall: Civil Rights Leader" (9781477725450) from the Rosen Common Core Readers Program to provide the alternative point of view on the same topic.

African American History/Interest

Jackie Robinson: Breaking Barriers is aligned to the Common Core State Standards for English/Language Arts, addressing Literacy.RI.3.2 and Literacy.L.3.1e. The life of African-American baseball player Jackie Robinson is explored through photographs and narrative nonfiction text. A timeline of Robinson's life is included. This book should be paired with “Jackie Robinson: Baseball Legend" (9781477725689) from the Rosen Common Core Readers Program to provide the alternative point of view on the same topic.

African American History/Interest

Sparked by Rosa Parks's simple and heroic refusal to give up her seat, and led by the up-and-coming Martin Luther King Jr., the Montgomery Bus Boycott was an unlikely early victory in the Civil Rights Movement. Filled with engaging details about the boycott and its social and legal outcomes, this book illuminates one of the most dramatic chapters in American History.

African American History/Interest

Even though segregation had been ruled as unlawful, integration of Southern schools proved to be a dangerous matter. Provided here is an astute account of the violence, threats, and terror the first integrated African American students faced as they forged the way for the acceptance and equal treatment of all races. The incredible true story of these brave student-heroes is sure to inspire a whole new generation of young people.

In 1961, a group known as the Freedom Riders organized a trip that spanned several southern states in order to test new desegregation laws. The backlash they faced was incredible and included facing violent mobs and enduring brutal beatings. Learn about the terror, the bravery, and, ultimately, the triumph that changed history.

African American History/Interest

The 1950s and 60s were a tumultuous time for African Americans as they fought for equality. Sit-ins, a peaceful tactic that displayed patience and determination, were met with incredible hostility. This book takes an unflinching look at the incredible struggles and successes of those who fought these battles to secure their own civil rights.

African American History/Interest

One of the most memorable events of the Civil Rights Movement was the 1963 March on Washington that involved more than 250,000 participants and that included Martin Luther King Jr.'s masterwork “I Have a Dream� speech. Readers will be enthralled and inspired as they learn about these aspects as well as the broader historical context surrounding the march.

The Brown v. Board of Education ruling was a major milestone in the Civil Rights Movement. This book traces the effects of slavery, emancipation, and Jim Crow Laws to what became one of the most profoundly important Supreme Court cases in American history. The comprehensive yet concise recounting will help students comprehend the context, causes, and effects of the decision that ended segregation in public schools.

A black teenager in the ‘70s-era Bronx was fascinated by space and frequently took his telescope up to the rooftop. But his neighbors were frightened, thinking he was an armed burglar. They called the police. In the mid-1990s, this same person was named Director of the American Museum of Natural History’s world-renowned Hayden Planetarium. This enthralling biography of Neil deGrasse Tyson, America’s favorite astrophysicist, takes the reader from the hardscrabble streets of the inner city to the hallowed halls of science to the outer reaches of our galaxy and beyond. As this inspiring volume attests, Tyson’s life beautifully illustrates the maxim “through adversity to the stars.�

African American History/Interest

African American History/Interest

Founded in 1909 in response to violence against African Americans, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. In the last century, it won landmark court cases, including Brown v. Board of Education, that demolished the legal basis for segregation. It advanced legislation in employment, housing, and voting, and helped change public sentiment on racial equality. This title presents the little-known story of the NAACP, its leaders, and its role in promoting civil rights. Sure to enhance readers' grasp of American history, it also provides practice analyzing the development of individuals, events, and ideas, a Common Core ELA requirement.

Artist Lorenzo Pace uses his fascination with Douglass’s abolitionist newspaper, The North Star, to create an age-appropriate, sensitive narrative. His nonfiction text and primary-source material, along with his artwork, tells the story of Douglass and the fight to end slavery.

About the Author/Illustrator
Lorenzo Pace is the former director of the Montclair State University Art Galleries in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. He is the sculptor commissioned to create Triumph of the Human Spirit for the African Burial Ground Memorial in Foley Square Park in New York City. He is currently a Professor of Art at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

African American History/Interest

Artist Lorenzo Pace participated in the civil rights movement and marched with Martin Luther King, Jr. His unique cultural perspective and first-person eyewitness account of the era is made immediate and accessible to elementary students with his artistic collages of primary source materials.

About the Author/Illustrator
Lorenzo Pace is the former director of the Montclair State University Art Galleries in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. He is the sculptor commissioned to create Triumph of the Human Spirit for the African Burial Ground Memorial in Foley Square Park in New York City. He is currently a Professor of Art at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

Artist Lorenzo Pace uses his grandmother’s quilts in a powerful, personal, and artistic presentation of Harriet Tubman’s heroic participation in the Underground Railroad. The Pace family artifacts are like the quilts slaves made and used for giving signals and directions to those seeking freedom. His unique narrative voice and point of view make this a brilliant, age-appropriate informational text.

About the Author/Illustrator
Lorenzo Pace is the former director of the Montclair State University Art Galleries in Upper Montclair, New Jersey. He is the sculptor commissioned to create Triumph of the Human Spirit for the African Burial Ground Memorial in Foley Square Park in New York City. He is currently a Professor of Art at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.

African American History/Interest

Malcolm X, the famous African American activist, remains a figure of controversy years after his assassination in 1965. This book uses the embattled leader's own words to explore his life, from the early death of his father to his own untimely death. It also examines Malcolm's teachings, which at times countered the civil rights movement of Martin Luther King Jr. This biography uses primary sources to reveal a period of great turbulence and social discontent in the United States.

African American History/Interest