On February 8, Illinois Libraries Present will host the poet and author Kwame Alexander. The author of 36 books for children and adults will share his process in publishing and his belief that words have the power to create positive change.
Kwame Alexander’s masterful An American Story, illustrated by Dare Coulter, harnesses the power of the picture book to amplify the human experience. The book is a response to the common quandary of educators who struggle to find an approach to teaching slavery that is honest without inflicting additional trauma. “How do you tell a story / that starts in Africa / and ends in horror?” Alexander's well-chosen words intertwine with Coulter's evocative multi-media art in a mode of storytelling that rejects the mainstream textbook narrative in order to center a human perspective.
Rather than opening the story during the period of American slavery, Alexander sets the introduction in Africa, where families lived freely and went about daily chores, played games, and told stories. These people were free and we see ourselves in them. As the lyrical text moves through the timeline of kidnapping, torture, and enslavement, the narrator’s voice is interrupted with the voices of modern-day students. They interject, “Why weren’t they paid? / That’s not fair.” Finally, the narrator, who is revealed as their teacher, falters. “I don’t think I can continue./ It’s just too painful./ I shouldn’t have read this to you./ I’m sorry, children.” But the students encourage their teacher. Together, they come to an answer on how to hold the truth and strengthen the future. "You do it by being brave enough to lift your voice, / by holding history in one hand / and clenching hope in the other."
Alexander’s multi-dimensional storytelling is elevated by Dare Coulter's stunning art. The historical characters are depicted in water-based and polymer clay set against a backdrop of acrylic paint. They appear so real that if we touch them we might leave an impression. The sculptural past is punctuated with charcoal images of present-day students in a middle school classroom. These sketches, set against bright yellow gessoed paper, have an unfinished quality that suggests potential and possibility.
From the The 1619 Project: Born on the Water to The Talk, picture books are gateways for understanding and connection. When teachers and grownups read together with children, picture books guide the way through challenging topics and complicated histories. To learn more, check out these upcoming events at Wilmette Public Library.
Saying Yes to Your Story: A Conversation with Kwame Alexander
Wednesday, February 8, 7-7:45pm, Adults, Virtual