Published while the United States has its first African-American president, this story of John Roy Lynch, the first African-American speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives, lays bare the long and arduous path black Americans have walked to obtain equality. (author’s note, artist’s note, further reading, quotation sources)Īn honestly told biography of an important politician whose name every American should know. The page design features well-placed text, occasional quotes and vibrant hues, further complementing its striking subject.Īn extraordinary dancer and woman is here celebrated with style and empathy. Robinson’s stunning acrylic paintings depict elongated figures and recreate Baker’s movements and costumes with verve and dynamism. With this device, Powell and Robinson create an air of expectancy before the curtain rises and a time to reflect and admire as it falls in front of a stage strewn with flowers. The book is arranged as stage acts, each covering a segment of her story. The author excels at describing Baker’s innovative and memorable dance routines and her fantastical life in Paris, where she walked her pet leopard, each adorned with a diamond choker. Grateful to the French, she worked as a spy during World War II and later adopted 12 children from around the world: She called them her Rainbow Tribe. Louis, Mo., to dance in New York and Paris, the city where she finally achieved fame and escaped American segregation and racism. Baker rose from a childhood of poverty and race riots in St. Writing in free verse, former dancer Powell pays homage to the fabulous Josephine Baker.
A life devoted to self-expression through dance and racial harmony is celebrated in this lavish, lengthy picture book.
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