Description: "James Weldon Johnson was a man of words. He wrote 'Lift Every Voice and Sing,' a poem so uplifting and inspiring it became known as the Black national anthem. James was also a leader of the NAACP, and many people turned to him for advice in troubling times. And then was one of those times. White people were hurting Black people in scary and shocking ways. In July 1917, James helped lead thousands of children and adults in the Silent Protest Parade as they marched down Fifth Avenue in New York City. Today, the parade stands as an inspiring reminder of the power of protest in all forms, and the power and resilience of young people in the face of ongoing racial hatred and violence"
Brief description: Yohuru Williams is the distinguished university chair and professor of history and founding director of the Racial Justice Initiative at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. The former chief historian of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, he appeared in Ken Burns's Jackie Robinson and with Michael G. Long coauthored More Than a Dream: The Radical March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, which was longlisted for the National Book Award, and Call Him Jack: The Story of Jackie Robinson, Black Freedom Fighter. He is the author of numerous books, including Teaching Beyond the Textbook.
Review Quotes: "The idea that a man of words could harness silence to convey a powerful message comes through loudly. Expressive digital illustrations in a palette of browns, tans, yellows, and fiery oranges support the storytelling. . . A moving depiction of a potent response to a dark period in U.S. history."
--Kirkus Reviews