Plot Summary
The lives of ten African American men, who fought for social reform and racial equality, are described and arranged chronologically. Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, A. Philip Randolph, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Barack H. Obama II all greatly impacted the lives of African Americans and influenced the history of the entire United States of America.
Critical Analysis
Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America is a lesson in the oftentimes untold history of America. Pinkney cites source after source, 39 in all, as references for her biographical information. She also includes a timeline in the back of the book which starts with the birth of Benjamin Banneker in 1731 and ends with Barack Hussein Obama becoming the forty-fourth, and first black, president of the United States in 2009. Pinkney's meticulous research takes the reader on a historical journey of ten black men who were determined to make the United States of America a better place to live for every man and woman, regardless of color.
Pinkney unabashedly casts the spotlight on the dark side of American history; the side which many historians choose to ignore in hopes that somehow people will forget this disgraceful race-segregated wound which festered for years. Words and phrases such as "abolitionists," "slaves," "Anti-Slavery Society," "Negro," "conking," "milksops," "Ku Klux Klan," "Black Muslims," "croaker sacks," and "Jim Crow" are scattered throughout Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America.
African-American culture is incomplete without religion and their ever-present spirituals. The church kept this people united and gave them hope that better things were in store. Some of these men learned to read from the Bible. In fact, not only did Benjamin Banneker learn to read from the Bible, he learned to count from the Bible as well. He did this by reciting all 150 Psalms! Some were the sons of ministers. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. both became renowned spiritual leaders as well. Martin Luther King, Jr. is remembered for using these passages:
Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America is organized into ten sections which give the biographies, in chronological order, of the following black men: Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, A. Philip Randolph, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Barack H. Obama II. Each section begins with a poem about the person and his accomplishments. Each section could be read individually and in whatever order the reader may choose.
Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America is illustrated by Pinkney's husband, Brian. Brian Pinkney uses a lot of pinkish-reds, greens, oranges, and yellows in his illustrations. The skin tones of his subjects are unrecognizable for the most part; however, the facial features do have a dark hue and the subject's hair is always depicted as black, which is sometimes laced with white hair as well. The text gives clues to individual skin tones by describing them as "buff," "midnight," "that moon," "dark and as beautiful as that sky," "dark coffee," "butterscotch-colored," "black," "brown," "peanut-butter hue," "creamy-skinned," "nut-colored," and "complexion as black as the skin on a raisin."
Time and time again, these men had something to prove to white men to show that black men were their equals. One way they set out to accomplish this was by their immaculate dress. In Brian Pinkney's illustrations, one of the men, Frederick Douglass, is in a long coat, with dress pants, and a dress shirt. Another illustration shows DuBois' European flair of a top hat, white gloves, white spats, and a walking cane. Other illustrations show the men in suits and ties. Of course, Thurgood Marshall looks particularly dignified in his black Supreme Court Justice robe.
Based on the plethora of historical facts and dates, Pinkney no doubt spent countless hours researching Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America. However, readers may become bogged down in the sheer number of facts that line each and every page. The only exception to this would be the section on Barack H. Obama II. Pinkney crafted Mr. Obama's life story more from the standpoint of a personal friend rather than a history teacher recounting the person's life.
Regardless of ethnic and racial backgrounds, all readers can benefit from this walk down the shadowy past of American history. It is always important to recognize past mistakes and learn from them so that our future will not lead us down the same racially-ensnared path. Readers can be encouraged by the tenaciousness of these ten black men who, against all odds, rose to prominence and overcame the bonds of racial prejudice.
Pinkney unabashedly casts the spotlight on the dark side of American history; the side which many historians choose to ignore in hopes that somehow people will forget this disgraceful race-segregated wound which festered for years. Words and phrases such as "abolitionists," "slaves," "Anti-Slavery Society," "Negro," "conking," "milksops," "Ku Klux Klan," "Black Muslims," "croaker sacks," and "Jim Crow" are scattered throughout Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America.
African-American culture is incomplete without religion and their ever-present spirituals. The church kept this people united and gave them hope that better things were in store. Some of these men learned to read from the Bible. In fact, not only did Benjamin Banneker learn to read from the Bible, he learned to count from the Bible as well. He did this by reciting all 150 Psalms! Some were the sons of ministers. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, Jr. both became renowned spiritual leaders as well. Martin Luther King, Jr. is remembered for using these passages:
"Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." Matthew 22:39
"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1
"Walk in love...Walk as children of light." Ephesians 5:2, 8
Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America is organized into ten sections which give the biographies, in chronological order, of the following black men: Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. DuBois, A. Philip Randolph, Thurgood Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Barack H. Obama II. Each section begins with a poem about the person and his accomplishments. Each section could be read individually and in whatever order the reader may choose.
Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America is illustrated by Pinkney's husband, Brian. Brian Pinkney uses a lot of pinkish-reds, greens, oranges, and yellows in his illustrations. The skin tones of his subjects are unrecognizable for the most part; however, the facial features do have a dark hue and the subject's hair is always depicted as black, which is sometimes laced with white hair as well. The text gives clues to individual skin tones by describing them as "buff," "midnight," "that moon," "dark and as beautiful as that sky," "dark coffee," "butterscotch-colored," "black," "brown," "peanut-butter hue," "creamy-skinned," "nut-colored," and "complexion as black as the skin on a raisin."
Time and time again, these men had something to prove to white men to show that black men were their equals. One way they set out to accomplish this was by their immaculate dress. In Brian Pinkney's illustrations, one of the men, Frederick Douglass, is in a long coat, with dress pants, and a dress shirt. Another illustration shows DuBois' European flair of a top hat, white gloves, white spats, and a walking cane. Other illustrations show the men in suits and ties. Of course, Thurgood Marshall looks particularly dignified in his black Supreme Court Justice robe.
Based on the plethora of historical facts and dates, Pinkney no doubt spent countless hours researching Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America. However, readers may become bogged down in the sheer number of facts that line each and every page. The only exception to this would be the section on Barack H. Obama II. Pinkney crafted Mr. Obama's life story more from the standpoint of a personal friend rather than a history teacher recounting the person's life.
Regardless of ethnic and racial backgrounds, all readers can benefit from this walk down the shadowy past of American history. It is always important to recognize past mistakes and learn from them so that our future will not lead us down the same racially-ensnared path. Readers can be encouraged by the tenaciousness of these ten black men who, against all odds, rose to prominence and overcame the bonds of racial prejudice.
Awards and Honors
Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Excellence in Children's Literature, Honor
Book, 2013
Kirkus Best Children's Books, 2012
New York Times Notable Children's Books, 2012
Kirkus Book Review Stars, 2012
Publisher's Weekly Book Review Stars, 2012
Review Excerpts
"Inspired by young African American teens participating at a literacy institute, Andrea Davis Pinkney selected ten black men who have made significant contributions to American history, from Colonial America to the present day. In her depictions of these men, she explores the background behind their accomplishments in detail." — Library Media Connection, March/April 2013
"The Pinkneys create a testament to African American males that, taken together, tells one big story of triumph (a story that, incidentally, spans American history)." — Horn Book Magazine, January/February 2013
"Addressing the appetites of readers 'hungry for role models,' this presents compellingly oratorical pictures of the lives and characters of 10 African-American men who exemplify a 'birthright of excellence.'" — Booklist Review
Other Books Written by Andrea Davis Pinkney and Illustrated by Brian Pinkney
Let it Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters
Sojourner Truth's Step-Stomp Stride
Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra
Visit his website for more information: http://brianpinkney.net/
Book Connections
Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson
Oh Freedom!: Kids Talk about the Civil Rights Movement with the People who
Made it Happen by Casey King and Linda Barrett Osborne
Made it Happen by Casey King and Linda Barrett Osborne
We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March by Cynthia Levinson
Connection Activities
- Listen to the Afro-American Blues And Game Songs Record Afro-American Spirituals, Work Songs, And Ballads. ISBN 1100991434132.
- Play the interactive game which tests your knowledge of the civil rights movement throughout history. The game is located at http://www.ballard-tighe.com/eaweb/interactiveonline/activities/ea7_1.swf.
Review makes me what to go buy the book right now!! Great job.
ReplyDelete