Module 5: Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans

Heart and Soul: The Story of  America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson

 

Summary: Kadir Nelson uses both eloquent words and stunning illustrations to tell the story of African Americans throughout American history.  The story begins before the Revolutionary War, and chronicles the journey of African Americans through years of slavery, abolition, the Civil War, Reconstruction after the Civil War, movement to the west, involvement in World War II, and through the years of the civil right's movement. Kadir's historical account ends with an epilogue referencing the amazing accomplishments of African Americans today, including the election of the first African American President, Barack Obama. 

APA Reference: Nelson, K. (2011). Heart and soul: The story of America and African Americans. New York, NY: Harper Collins.

Impressions: There are many picture books available about different aspects of African American history, but this is the first one that I know about which combines the entire history in one book.  Because of this approach, I feel like my understanding of the topic is much more unified and comprehensive than it has been in the past.  Because the book is written in a first person narrative by an unknown African American woman, it is easy to feel extreme emotion throughout the book.  I found myself feeling angry and disillusioned by the way the slaves were treated, even by famous American leaders like George Washington.  I was proud to hear of the many black heroes who worked to help America like the Buffalo Soldiers, black inventors, musicians, and the young black boxer, Joe Louis.  The peaceful efforts of the Freedom Fighters and Martin Luther King showed that even though blacks suffered much, they were smart enough to know that real change could only happen through peaceful measures.  To go along with such a well-told story, are the vibrant, realistic, and detailed illustrations of Kadir which create a visual story on their own.  The only thing I found myself wishing was that Kadir would have ended his story by showing a modern day unification of America including blacks, whites, and all the cultures that help to make our country great today.

Professional Review:

In an undertaking even more ambitious than the multiple-award-winning We Are the Ship (2008), Nelson tells the story of African-Americans and their often central place in American history. Directly after the prologue, the narrative begins with the U.S. Capitol, built by slaves and freeman before Nelson steps back and shows the intricate ways American and African-American history were intertwined from the earliest days of the country's founding. Using an unnamed female narrator, Nelson fashions a unique mode of storytelling that is both historical and personal. The narrator guides readers through major events in American history through the perspective of, first, enslaved people, then those legally free but hindered by discrimination and, finally, citizens able to fully participate in American life following the Civil Rights Movement. As with any work by this talented artist, the accompanying illustrations are bold and arresting. The dramatic oil paintings heighten the dignity of this story, whether they are of well-known historical figures, common folk or landscape. With such a long time period to cover, the careful choices Nelson makes of which stories to tell make this a successful effort. While there is little room for historical nuance, Nelson does include the way events such as World War I and the fight for woman suffrage affected the Black community. This intimate narrative makes the stories accessible to young readers and powerfully conveys how personal this history feels for many African-Americans. (Nonfiction. 10 & up) 

[Review of the book Heart and soul: The story of America and African Americans by K. Nelson]. (2011, July). Kirkus reviews, LXXIX, 108. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/

Library Uses: This is a perfect book to make use of during Black History Month.  Why not invite some local African Americans in and highlight their talents such as jazz musicians, artists, authors, etc.  Every week the library could host a different guest.  Also a program could be done for older children or teens allowing them to experience the African culture with games, crafts, and an introduction to specific highlights in the book.