Young, Gifted and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present
Jamia Wilson, Andrea Pippins
“…to be revisited again and again…The candy-colored pages and straightforward stories are hard to resist…” –The New York Times
“Gorgeously illustrated…vibrant and comprehensive…will be brought down from the bookshelf again and again"" –Evening Standard“Glorious celebration of 52 black heroes…big and bold…this is what young people of all races need to see."" –The Independent
“An essential book for inspiring even the tiniest children to face the world with boldness and self-belief.” –The Observer
Meet 52 icons of colour from the past and present in this celebration of inspirational achievement – a collection of stories about changemakers to encourage, inspire and empower the next generation of changemakers. Jamia Wilson has carefully curated this range of black icons and the book is stylishly brought together by Andrea Pippins’ colourful and celebratory illustrations.
Written in the spirit of Nina Simone’s song “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black,” this vibrant book is a perfect introduction to both historic and present-day icons and heroes. Meet figureheads, leaders and pioneers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks, as well as cultural trailblazers and athletes like Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams.
All children deserve to see themselves represented positively in the books they read. Highlighting the talent and contributions of black leaders and changemakers from around the world, readers of all backgrounds will be empowered to discover what they too can achieve. Strong, courageous, talented and diverse, these extraordinary men and women’s achievements will inspire a new generation to chase their dream… whatever it may be.
The 52 icons: Mary Seacole, Matthew Henson, Ava Duvernay, Bessie Coleman, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Cathy Freeman, George Washington Carver, Malorie Blackman, Harriet Tubman, Mo Farah, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Jesse Owens, Beyonce Knowles, Solange Knowles, Katherine Johnson, Josephine Baker, Kofi Annan, Langston Hughes, Toni Morrison, Brian Lara, Madam C.J. Walker, Yannick Noah, Maurice Ashley, Alexandre Duma, Martin Luther King, Jr., Maya Angelou, Nina Simone, Simone Biles, Stevie Wonder, Esperanza Spalding, Sidney Poitier, Oprah Winfrey, Pele, Nelson Mandela, Louis Armstrong, Rosa Parks, Naomi Campbell, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, Muhammad Ali, Shirley Chisholm, Steve McQueen, Zadie Smith, Usain Bolt, Wangari Maathai, Mae Jemison, W.E.B. Du Bois, Nicola Adams, Serena Williams, Venus Williams, and Misty Copeland.
Reviews

I think it was really good as it told lots of facts about these people who had an impact on the world today and this book was very factual and it was very good to read .I would recommend it to everyone as it was very interesting so people should read it and they might enjoy it like me.
Princess Majorca Possum 30.01.2024

This wonderfully informative book looks at fifty-two black people, current and historic, and their successes in life. I chose this book because I strongly believe no-one should be defined by their skin colour and we should celebrate everyone’s successes. Black history is upsetting and I want to learn about these individuals who have changed the world by making it a better place with more equal rights. I particularly enjoyed reading about Rosa Parks; I admire her for standing her ground and standing up for what matters to her and many other block people. If I were to be able to change anything about this book, it would be the illustrations. They are drawn well but I would have preferred real faces. If you want to learn of some incredible real life stories, I recommend this book.
Officer Diamond Submarine 28.07.2023

I love how they added HARRIET TUBMAN because I've watched the movie. Now everybody can know about YOUNG,GIFTED AND BLACK people.
Queen Ursula Teabag 14.10.2022

I learnt so much facts about black people from the past who were great at many things but weren't given the chances due to racism.
Commander Virgil Manatee 07.09.2022

Factual book, good
Sergeant Zeus Haystack 08.08.2022

This book tells you a short story of 52 black people from all over the world who have achived grate things.
Dame Gloriana Turkey 24.07.2022

I liked the book because it shows us about the amazing things that black people have achieved even though people doubted them.
Anonymous 11.07.2022

I really really love this amazing book because it has lots of facts about different people who did good things for the world also helping racism and sexism which is why I love it.
Countess Kangaroo Vegas 13.06.2022

nice book there are so many things i am and can be
Marshal Peaches Rollercoaster 05.08.2021

I loved learning about different people it was very interesting one off the people I liked best out of them all would be Mary seacole i found her story very interesting I would recomend it to people that like non fiction books
Princess Petronella Porridge-Oats 27.07.2021

Colourful and vibrant illustrations, succinct and interesting stories explaining how childhood experiences influenced later lives. Inspiring, fact filled and interesting reading.
Anonymous 03.09.2020

This book is wonderful it is filled with amazing facts about the black people such as Martin Luther king, Oprah Winfrey, Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks and Usain Bolt who contributed to many peoples lives, in the past and present. By the time I finished reading this book my head was filled with fantastic facts. I would definitely recommend this to a friend.
Lady Ursula Pawprint 09.07.2020