Sweet Land of Liberty

by Deborah Hopkinson, Leonard Jenkins (Illustrator)

Overview

This inspiring story of little-known civil rights champion Oscar Chapman reminds readers that one person can truly make a difference.

On Easter Sunday 1939, Marian Anderson performed at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial for a crowd of over 75,000 people. The person largely responsible for putting her there was a white man, Oscar Chapman. When Chapman learned that Marian Anderson was not allowed to sing at Constitution Hall because of the color of her skin, Chapman helped produce a landmark concert that―for at least one evening―bridged the color divide to bring a city and much of the nation together.

Award-winning author Deborah Hopkinson tells the inspirational story of Oscar Chapman's lifelong commitment to ending bigotry. Illustrator Leonard Jenkins's remarkable illustrations recreate a bygone era and pay tribute to remarkable real-life people and a magical moment in modern history. An author's note provides additional historical context.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781682631249
Publisher:	Peachtree Publishers, Ltd.
Publication date:	10/01/2019
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	32
Product dimensions:	9.80(w) x 11.30(h) x 0.20(d)
Lexile:	750L (what's this?)
Age Range:	6 - 9 Years

About the Author

Deborah Hopkinson grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts, and received a BA in English from the University of Massachusetts and an MA in Asian Studies from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa. She is the author of more than seventy books for young readers, including picture book and middle grade fiction and nonfiction. She lives in Oregon with her family and a menagerie of pets.

Leonard Jenkins received his BFA from the American Academy of Art in Chicago and has worked in advertising and taught at New York School of Visual Arts and Pratt Institute. The illustrator of numerous children's books, he lives in New York.

Editorial Reviews

"Hopkinson's (Sky Boys) accessible, conversational narrative relays the little-known story of Oscar Chapman. . . Featuring bright swirling pastel patterns against deep blues and browns, Jenkins's (Langston's Train Ride) collage-like mixed-media illustrations deftly dramatize this illuminating and inspirational behind-the-scenes look at a triumphant moment in the civil rights movement."—Publishers Weekly

"Jenkins's mixed-media illustrations are freighted with emotion, unnatural colors and skewed angles underlining the tumult of feelings surrounding the events, scribbles of colored chalk making the connection between Chapman the impassioned schoolboy and Chapman the righteous man. . . it brings deserved attention to Chapman and underscores the very worthwhile message that one does not need to be a star to make a difference."—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

K - Gr 4 - As Assistant Secretary of the Interior under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Oscar Chapman played a vital role in securing Marian Anderson's use of the Lincoln Memorial as a venue for her free concert in 1939. Hopkinson ties incidents from Chapman's childhood to his efforts on Anderson's behalf, establishing that he never shied away from controversy. His refusal to testify against two African-American friends unfairly accused of stealing demonstrates a long history of opposing injustice. This sets the stage for the adult Chapman's willingness to find the perfect location for Anderson's performance and his work for FDR's approval. He also ensured that every V.I.P. in Washington was personally invited to attend. Of course, the event was a blazing success and remains a touchstone of the Civil Rights Movement. Hopkinson's slant on Chapman's contributions provides food for thought. The mixed-media illustrations succeed best when the action shifts to Washington where Jenkins can rely on the historical record in composing his work. The earlier scenes are confusingly jumbled. An endnote lists some of the author's sources, but none of the quotes in the text are specifically cited. Still, the book could provoke meaningful discussion about character formation and civic responsibility.-Miriam Lang Budin, Chappaqua Public Library, NY

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