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BLOG

#OwnVoices: The Undefeated

  • Jocelyn T.
  • Wednesday, February 24
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"This is for the undefeated. This is for you.

And you.

And you.

This is for us." 

- Kwame Alexander

Unforgettable. Undeniable. Unflappable. Unafraid. These are just a few of the words that can be used to describe this Caldecott Medal and Coretta Scott King Award-Winning book by author Kwame Alexander and illustrator Kadir Nelson. Filled with moments from the past that lead up to our present, Alexander uses powerful words that tie together Black history and heritage, while Nelson's stunning images capture these moments in time that will without a doubt leave an imprint on your memory. 

Close-up painting of Black Children with white birds flying in the air and white text.
Image: NPR, 2019

Alexander explains in the Afterword that he began writing the text as a poem the year his second daughter was born. This was also three months before Barack Obama became the first Black president of the United States. Despite this huge moment in history, Alexander still knew that Black history (which is also very much American history) was still being forgotten and left out of textbooks, leaving Black children without the opportunity to know about important historical figures and to feel excluded and unseen themselves. He continued to write this poem, in hopes of providing a reminder to his daughter and Black children everywhere that they, too, matter and can conquer anything that the world might throw their way.

While this book is very much a heartfelt letter to Black youth, it is important to note that children (and adults) of any color should become familiar with this book. Looking into the lives of people that are different from you (especially through literature) is an ideal way to START examining topics such as race, diversity, inclusion, and privilege. 

However, most importantly, this book is a loud reminder to our Black youth that through our many, many wins and even our losses, we will always be Undefeated.

Author Kwame Alexander and illustrator Kadir Nelson discuss their award-winning book The Undefeated.

Below are more great titles written and illustrated by Kwame Alexander and Kadir Nelson! All of these are available with your Richland Library card!

Looking for even more good books?  Check out our personalized recommendations or call us at 803-799-9084. Find more resources on race, equity, and inclusion, here.

Out of Wonder

Out of Wonder

Poems Celebrating Poets
Published in 2016
40 pages : color illustrations ; 30 cm
Find
Book
 
Booked

Booked

Alexander, Kwame.
Published in 2016
text file
Find
Ebook
 
Booked

Booked

Alexander, Kwame.
Published in 2016
digital
Find
Eaudiobook
 
The Crossover

The Crossover

Alexander, Kwame.
Published in 2014
237 pages ; 22 cm
Find
Book
 
The Crossover

The Crossover

Alexander, Kwame.
Published in 2014
text file
Find
Ebook
 
The Crossover

The Crossover

Alexander, Kwame.
Published in 2013
1 online resource.
Find
Ebook
 
The Crossover

The Crossover

Alexander, Kwame.
Published in 2014
digital
Find
Eaudiobook
 
Rebound

Rebound

Alexander, Kwame.
Published in 2018
text file
Find
Ebook
 
Rebound

Rebound

Alexander, Kwame.
Published in 2018
1 online resource.
Find
Ebook
 
The Undefeated

The Undefeated

Alexander, Kwame
Published in 2019
Find
Ebook
 
Booked

Booked

Alexander, Kwame, author.
Published in 2016
314 pages ; 22 cm
Find
Book
 
The Crossover

The Crossover

Alexander, Kwame, author.
Published in 2019
218 pages : illustrations, some color ; 22 cm
Find
Book
 
Rebound

Rebound

Alexander, Kwame, author.
Published in 2018
414 pages : illustrations ; 22 cm.
Prequel to: The crossover.
Find
Book
 
The Undefeated

The Undefeated

Alexander, Kwame, author.
Published in 2019
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 28 cm
Find
Book
 
Brothers of the Knight

Brothers of the Knight

Allen, Debbie.
Published in 1999
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 29 cm
Find
Book
 
Salt in His Shoes

Salt in His Shoes

Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream
Jordan, Deloris.
Published in 2000
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 31 cm
Hold
Book
 
I Have a Dream

I Have a Dream

King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968.
Published in 2012
1 online resource
Find
Ebook
 
I Have a Dream

I Have a Dream

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968.
Published in 2012
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 29 cm + 1 sound disc (4 3/4 in.)
Find
Book
 
Please, Baby, Please

Please, Baby, Please

Lee, Spike.
Published in 2007
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 15 x 15 cm.
Find
Book
 
Please, Baby, Please

Please, Baby, Please

By Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee ; Illustrated by Kadir Nelson.
Lee, Spike.
Published in 2002
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 26 cm
Find
Book
 
Henry's Freedom Box

Henry's Freedom Box

Levine, Ellen.
Published in 2007
40 unnumbered pages : color illustrations ; 29 cm
Find
Book
 
Blue Sky White Stars

Blue Sky White Stars

Naberhaus, Sarvinder, author.
Published in 2017
1 volume (unpaged) : colour illustrations ; 29 cm
Find
Book
 
Heart and Soul

Heart and Soul

The Story of America and African Americans
Nelson, Kadir.
Published in 2011
digital
Find
Eaudiobook
 
Heart and Soul

Heart and Soul

The Story of America and African Americans
Nelson, Kadir.
Published in 2011
108 pages : illustrations (chiefly color) ; 29 cm
Includes bibliographical references (page 104) and index.
Find
Book
 
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

He's Got the Whole World in His Hands

Nelson, Kadir.
Published in 2005
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 26 cm
Find
Book
 
Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela

Nelson, Kadir.
Published in 2013
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 32 cm
Includes bibliographical references.
Find
Book
 
We Are the Ship

We Are the Ship

The Story of Negro League Baseball
Nelson, Kadir.
Published in 2008
2 sound discs (1 hr., 55 min.) : digital ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 compact disc.
Find
Audiobook on CD
 
We Are the Ship

We Are the Ship

The Story of Negro League Baseball
Nelson, Kadir.
Published in 2008
88 pages : color illustrations ; 29 x 29 cm
Includes bibliographical references (pages 83-86), filmography (page 83) and index.
Find
Book
 
If You Plant a Seed

If You Plant a Seed

Nelson, Kadir, author, illustrator.
Published in 2015
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 29 cm
Find
Book
 
Thunder Rose

Thunder Rose

Nolen, Jerdine.
Published in 2003
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 30 cm
Find
Book
 
Coretta Scott

Coretta Scott

Shange, Ntozake.
Published in 2009
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 32 cm
Find
Book
 
Ellington Was Not a Street

Ellington Was Not a Street

Shange, Ntozake.
Published in 2004
1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 31 cm
Find
Book
 
Coretta Scott

Coretta Scott

Shange, Ntozake, author.
Published in 2013
1 online resource (1 sound file (05 min., 47 sec.)) : digital.
Find
Eaudiobook
 
Moses

Moses

When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
Weatherford, Carole Boston, 1956-
Published in 2006
42 unnumbered pages : color illustrations ; 30 cm
"Jump at the sun."
Find
Book
 

#OwnVoices at Richland Library is a way for African American staff to provide thoughtful and well written book reviews, book lists and blog posts to promote African American authors and their work about the African American experience. The series invites our customers to learn one more way we are continuing the conversation in our community and speaking our voice. Find more resources on race, equity and inclusion, here.

Author

Jocelyn T.

Children's Librarian

Tags
Book Recommendations
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Audience
Parents
Families
School age children (6-12 years)
6-8 years
9-12 years

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