Celebrating the Black Family

 

Hammering for Freedom by Rita Lorraine Hubbard

William "Bill" Lewis was born into slavery in Tennessee in 1810 and from an early age he dreamed of freedom for him and his family. The man who enslaved him, Colonel Lewis, was also his biological father. When Bill was still a young boy, Colonel Lewis decided that he should be trained as a blacksmith and Bill soon realized that this would be his ticket to freedom. Colonel Lewis rented out Bill and his labor to other people and while he kept most of the money Bill earned, Bill was permitted to keep a small portion for himself.

At age 27, Bill rented his own labor from Colonel Lewis and made history as the first Black blacksmith in Chattanooga, Tennessee. 26 years later he had purchased freedom not only for his wife, himself, and their son, but also his mother, two brothers, aunt, and sister. The nine children Bill and his wife Jane had after they purchased their freedom were born free themselves.

Every February in the United States we celebrate Black History Month, which has been a federally recognized holiday since 1976. Historian Carter G. Woodson established Negro History week (the precursor to Black History Month) in 1926. Born to former slaves, who were never taught to read or write, Woodson himself was largely self-taught as helping on the family farm took precedence over traditional schooling. However, he was able to enroll in high school when he was twenty and earned his high school degree in just two years, then went on to become the second African American to earn a Ph.D. at Harvard University, publish numerous books and articles about the important contributions of Black Americans. He is known today as the "Father of Black History."

Photo of our 2020 Black History Month library collaborative poster and display

 

Did you know that every year Black History Month has a theme? Woodson believed an annual theme would focus the attention of the public on Black history. The theme for 2021 is The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity.

The intention has never been to dictate or limit the exploration of the Black experience, but to bring to the public’s attention important developments that merit emphasis.

Every U.S. president since President Gerald R. Ford has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating Black history in February or other months throughout the year.

Hair Love by Matthew Cherry

There are so many great books celebrating the Black family, and Hair Love by Matthew Cherry is certainly a favorite! Based on an Oscar-winning short film, both the book and animated short tell the story of a Black father learning to do his daughter's hair for the first time. You can feel love the two have for each other as they work together to create a hair style that is just right.

Who Will You Be? by Andrea Pippins

Who Will You Be? by Andrea Pippins is another lovely picture book, this one about a mother who muses about who her child will grow up to be. Wondering what traits her little one may inherit or learn from different family members and those in the wider community, the book ends with the words every child longs to hear:

My wish is that you will be all of these things and more.
You will be your own self, for no one in the world has ever been like you.
And this I know, my child: whoever you will be, I will love you forever.

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What are some of your favorite books that celebrate Black families?