Wednesday, May 31, 2017

Hard Labor: The First African Americans, 1619 (Milestone Books)

Gr. 5-8. The McKissacks take on a difficult and disturbing subject in this small history in the Milestone Books series, an account of the very first Africans who came to this country in the early seventeenth century: who they were, why they came, and what happened to them and their descendants. It is clear throughout how difficult it is to know what really happened ('probably' is a frequent qualifier in the text), but that's all part of the important story, 'the facts blurred by centuries of neglect.' What is known is that the first black citizens were not slaves, but indentured servants, like many whites. One fascinating chapter focuses on Anthony Johnson, who married a black woman and raised a free, successful family. But then racism became the law, and made only the blacks permanent slaves. The type is big and clear, with occasional black-and-white illustrations, but middle-graders will need adult help with the sweeping history, which includes an overview of slavery around the world. There's a useful list of 'Virtual Visits' to four Web sites, including one on Anthony Johnson. Hazel RochmanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Hard Labor: The First African Americans, 1619 (Milestone Books) Rating: 4.5 Diposkan Oleh: Penny Darsono

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