Read On!

Mrs. Farquharson’s musings about books for children and young adults

Celebrating Black History in Books

February11

As we celebrate Black History Month in February, I would like to revisit two books that were recognized this year by the American Library Association, Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer (Candlewick) and Trombone Shorty (Abrams).

voiceCarole Boston Weatherford’s picture book biography about Fannie Lou Hamer is important to share with our middle school students. As the granddaughter of slaves and the youngest of twenty children, she endured illness, poverty, extreme acts of prejudice, and racism that included physical attacks on her personally. Hamer was active in the civil rights movement. As part of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, she addressed the 1964 Democratic National Convention about the voter discrimination in the south. Hamer’s passion was evident in her powerful singing voice, and she reached millions of people through her beautiful gift.
Fannie Lou Hamer singing:

tromA contemporary musician who shares his talent with the world is Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews. He tells us his story in the phenomenal picture book biography Trombone Shorty. Even as a young boy, music resonated in Troy’s home and neighborhood of Tremé in New Orleans.
He made his own instruments until one day Troy found a broken trombone. With practice, Troy taught himself to play, and his brother gave him the nickname “Trombone Shorty”. One day, his mother took him to the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, and Troy brought his trombone along. When Bo Diddley was on the stage, Troy began to play along. Bo Diddley invited him to the stage. Trombone Shorty continued to revel in his music, and his talent is a gift to today’s jazz lovers.

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