Thursday, March 9, 2017

VOICE OF FREEDOM: FANNIE LOU HAMER: THE SPIRIT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT written by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Ekua Holmes


Review by Christi De Leon

a.    BIBLIOGRAPHY

Weatherford, Carole Boston. Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer: The Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement. Ill. by Ekua Holmes. Somerville, Massachusetts: Candlewick Press, 2015. ISBN 9780763665312

b.    SUMMARY & CRITICAL ANALYSIS

This book celebrates the life of Fannie Lou Hamer, a heroic activist and singer during the civil rights movement who left an unforgettable legacy. Consisting of fifty-six pages, Voice of Freedom tells her story poetically with experiences that occurred throughout her lifetime. Among these are her days as a sharecropper, participation in many efforts for freedom, and continued impact in her community.

Written in verse from Fannie Lou Hamer’s point of view, this biographical story captures her entire life in a powerful way, from her childhood on. Her determination and strong personality remain steadfast throughout. This is evident through her spirit and “never back down” mentality in the midst of difficult times, such as facing a beating. The writing reflects her personality in an amazing way and allows readers to make connections while growing in admiration for her. Each poem is arranged suitably and begins with a bolded title. Enriching features that add to the quality of this book include the Author’s Note, Time Line, Source Notes, and Selected Bibliography. Each gives readers the additional opportunity for further insight into Fannie Lou Hamer’s life and events taking place during this time in history.

The lyrical words and bold illustrations resonate in this inspirational story. The collage illustrations are large and detailed. The use of bright yellow, particularly in Fannie Lou Hamer’s attire, ideally corresponds with the setting of Sunflower County, Mississippi along with the “light” she strove to bring to the nation. This book is also an engaging choice for teaching history, especially the civil rights movement. Considering the amount of text and depth of understanding needed to comprehend some events, this book might be more suitable for older students. Fannie Lou Hamer faced many struggles that may not fully be understood by younger readers. Overall, this book is captivating and will not disappoint, as Fannie Lou Hamer’s voice continues to be heard by readers.

c.    POEM TO SPOTLIGHT & SHARE

Poem excerpt from “Fair”

School was open four months-
December through March-when children
were not needed to tend cotton.
I liked school even if black history was left out
and the textbooks made blacks seem like fools.
I recited poetry and won many a spelling bee.
            Fair.
            May I have a definition?
            Free of bias, dishonest and injustice.
            Fair. F-A-I-R Fair.
I sang, too, up through sixth grade,
And then left to work full-time in the fields.

This particular piece of the poem “Fair” from Voice of Freedom was selected because it shows the first hand perception of civil rights from the eyes of a child. Combining the common experience of a spelling bee with the meaning of the word “Fair” is an effective way to convey a bold statement to a young audience. This poem excerpt also provides an example of how insightful the words are throughout the book, furthering the reader’s knowledge. This poem specifically sets the tone for learning more about the civil rights movement.

Students are likely to relate to this poem since they are currently in school themselves. Children may also be more apt to ponder the words of another student just like them. Because of this, the poem “Fair” would be an engaging way to introduce students to the life of Fannie Lou Hamer. From listening to this poem being read aloud, students can make connections based on their own background knowledge. A discussion could follow on how issues of fairness and equality have changed since then.

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