Celebrate James Baldwin’s one-hundredth birthday anniversary with the first-ever illustrated biography of this legendary writer, orator, activist, and intellectual.
Before he became a writer, James “Jimmy” Baldwin was a young boy from Harlem, New York, who loved stories. He found joy in the rhythm of music, family, and books.
But Jimmy also found the blues, as a Black man living in America.
When he discovered the written word, he discovered true power. Writing gave him a voice. And that voice opened the world to Jimmy. From the publication of the groundbreaking collection of essays The Fire Next Time to his passionate demonstrations during the civil rights movement, Jimmy used his voice fearlessly.
Michelle Meadows, author of Brave Ballerina and Flying High, introduces young readers to the great American novelist, essayist, poet, playwright, orator, and artist James Baldwin, who, with the fire of his pen, dared a nation to dream of a more equitable world filled with love. Brought to life with warm illustrations by Jamiel Law, Jimmy’s Rhythm & Blues chronicles the life of an incredible visionary who left an indelible mark on American literature and history.---from the publisher
48 pages 978-0063273474 Ages 7-10
Keywords: biography, African American and Black nonfiction, African American author, authors, Language Arts Curriculum, civil rights, prejudice and racism, finding your voice, social activist, social issues, social conditions, 20th century, diversity, diverse books, 7 year old, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, power of words, power of story, power of the individual
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“[James] Baldwin's work fictionalizes fundamental personal questions and dilemmas amid complex social and psychological pressures. Themes of masculinity, sexuality, race, and class intertwine to create intricate narratives that run parallel with some of the major political movements toward social change in mid-twentieth century America, such as the civil rights movement and the gay liberation movement. Baldwin's protagonists are often but not exclusively African American, and gay and bisexual men frequently feature prominently in his literature. These characters often face internal and external obstacles in their search for social and self-acceptance. Such dynamics are prominent in Baldwin's second novel, Giovanni's Room, which was written in 1956, well before the gay liberation movement.”
– from the Wikipedia page on James Baldwin
Back in the Seventies, as an undergrad at UConn, I learned about James Baldwin’s work and works in a very hip evening lecture class about Black authors, artists, musicians, and other performers. But this is the first I’ve learned about who the guy actually was and where he came from.
“Home is brick brown,
Harlem, uptown,
trains rumbling by.
Born and raised in the heart of Harlem,
James Baldwin grew up
playing on the rooftop,
living in books,
dreaming about changing the world.
Friends and family called him Jimmy.
Jimmy lived in a cramped apartment,
where he took care of his little brothers and sisters.
In between changing diapers and giving baths,
Jimmy flipped through the pages of books.
He read everything and everywhere;
often holding a baby and a book
at the same time.”
We learn how James Baldwin had a way with words, and was writing impressive songs, poems, plays and stories as a little kid. His talents were recognized and he was taken under wing by Countee Cullen and others of significance in the Harlem Renaissance. Jimmy was preaching, like his father, by age fourteen, but then left the pulpit in order to achieve his dream of becoming a published author.
We Baby Boomers grew up in the era of the
children’s-biography-with-occa
This appears to be the first picture book Jamiel Laws has illustrated. I’m betting that it won’t be his last.
One issue: Excuse me, but I must differ with whomever at Amazon is responsible for listing this book's age range as 4-8 year olds. This is a book well worth including in elementary and middle-school library collections, BUT it is most appropriate for tweens, 10-14 year olds. James Baldwin is rarely taught before high school. I’m sorry, but I don’t see many four-year-olds being prepared to engage with a bio about some historic adult author from their great-grandparent’s generation, whether that author was straight and white or Black and gay.
Recommended by: Richie Partington, MLIS, California USA
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