Still I Rise: A Cartoon History of African Americans
Prize-winning novelistCharles Johnsonaptly describesStill I Rise: A Cartoon History of African Americansas "popular entertainment that enlightens." Like Art Spiegelman's graphic novelMaus, this is an unvarnished account. It begins with the arrival of the first Africans in Jamestown, Va., in 1619 and continues to document the achievements of black Americans despite overwhelming odds. The authors movingly depict black American soldiers fighting for their freedom in the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, and fighting for equality in World Wars I and II. They show black slaves working to preserve their language and culture and excelling at trades such as blacksmithing or shipbuilding. Above all, they show how black Americans have persevered despite overwhelming odds. An excellent book to inspire learning about the history of blacks in America,Still I Risealso features an informative introduction by Johnson, who is himself a cartoonist.