Your Legacy: A Bold Reclaiming of Our Enslaved History

by Schele Williams Narrated by Schele Williams

Overview

Your story begins in Africa. Your African ancestors defied the odds and survived 400 years of slavery in America and passed down an extraordinary legacy to you. Beginning in Africa before 1619, Your Legacy presents an unprecedentedly accessible, empowering, and proud introduction to African American history for children. While your ancestors' freedom was taken from them, their spirit was not; this book celebrates their accomplishments, acknowledges their sacrifices, and defines how they are remembered-and how their stories should be taught.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"A lovingly written, beautifully illustrated and stunningly timely book.”—Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming, MacArthur Fellow

"We are grateful to Schele and her dedication to making our beautiful history accessible to our children! Your Legacy is an educational and celebratory piece we’ve enjoyed sharing with our family. We are extremely excited for this story to be shared with other families as we continue to celebrate our rich history in this world."—Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union Wade, New York Times bestselling authors

"Your Legacy is a beautiful and powerful book that empowers children to reclaim and celebrate their ancestral history with pride. Schele Williams writes with a unique and important lens which will directly impact, inspire, and build confidence in Black youth."—Elena Favilli, co-author of Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls

**STARRED REVIEW**
"This thoughtful, sensitive, and beautiful volume, families can begin a difficult conversation in a nurturing way. This is a must for every Black child growing up in the Americas and will help other races and ages too. . . A truly powerful perspective shift."—Kirkus Reviews

**STARRED REVIEW**
"Bright, brilliant, page-filling illustrations perfectly capture the joyous tone. . . Not focused on recrimination or placing blame, this book is a celebration of perseverance and dignity that deserves a wide audience." —Booklist

**STARRED REVIEW**
"The African ancestors’ resilience is awe-inspiring, and this book does an outstanding job of telling their story and honoring them. Each page spread is a piece of artwork worthy of a museum. The blend of colors and media draws readers in to appreciate every detail." —School Library Journal

**STARRED REVIEW**
"A strikingly worthy introduction of 400 years of Black history to young readers, including the roots of American slavery, effectively conveying that slavery is far from the extent of Black history and influence." —Publishers Weekly

"An inspirational story that instills hope and encourages today’s African American children to consider what they will give to their own descendants." —The Horn Book Magazine

Publishers Weekly

**STARRED REVIEW**
"A strikingly worthy introduction of 400 years of Black history to young readers, including the roots of American slavery, effectively conveying that slavery is far from the extent of Black history and influence."

New York Times bestselling authors Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union Wade

"We are grateful to Schele and her dedication to making our beautiful history accessible to our children! Your Legacy is an educational and celebratory piece we’ve enjoyed sharing with our family. We are extremely excited for this story to be shared with other families as we continue to celebrate our rich history in this world."

The Horn Book Magazine

"An inspirational story that instills hope and encourages today’s African American children to consider what they will give to their own descendants."

School Library Journal

**STARRED REVIEW**
"The African ancestors’ resilience is awe-inspiring, and this book does an outstanding job of telling their story and honoring them. Each page spread is a piece of artwork worthy of a museum. The blend of colors and media draws readers in to appreciate every detail."

Jacqueline Woodson

"A lovingly written, beautifully illustrated and stunningly timely book.

Kirkus Reviews

**STARRED REVIEW**
"This thoughtful, sensitive, and beautiful volume, families can begin a difficult conversation in a nurturing way. This is a must for every Black child growing up in the Americas and will help other races and ages too. . . A truly powerful perspective shift."

 co-author of Good Night Stories for Reb Elena Favilli

"Your Legacy is a beautiful and powerful book that empowers children to reclaim and celebrate their ancestral history with pride. Schele Williams writes with a unique and important lens which will directly impact, inspire, and build confidence in Black youth."

Booklist

**STARRED REVIEW**
"Bright, brilliant, page-filling illustrations perfectly capture the joyous tone. . . Not focused on recrimination or placing blame, this book is a celebration of perseverance and dignity that deserves a wide audience."

Kirkus Reviews

★ 2021-07-14
This reclamation of legacy begins with African origins before the trans-Atlantic slave trade and emphasizes the strength and resilience of enslaved people.

The first two spreads introduce Africa as the beginning of “your story”: a continent of diverse peoples and cultures and colors where people thrived for thousands of years. Then Europeans arrived on African shores, and “your ancestors” were forcibly taken away, afraid but determined to survive. They were separated and regrouped and forced into hard labor, but they chose to love one another, to use their intellects, to share music, to courageously defy the system. Examples of their determination, brilliance, strength, and ingenuity are given in the names of specific historical figures listed on spreads that show their acts or creations in a scene—people who seized their freedom, invented things, and contributed to the American way of life. Additional spreads show more recent leaders grouped around words such as intellect, dignity, and grace. Final spreads encourage readers to receive these qualities as their ancestors’ legacy and to continue that legacy by gifting equality to the next generation. Engel’s paintings fairly glow with love and pride. Caregivers of Black children have struggled to introduce America’s shameful history in a way that doesn’t put the shame on Black people; with this thoughtful, sensitive, and beautiful volume, families can begin a difficult conversation in a nurturing way. This is a must for every Black child growing up in the Americas and will help other races and ages too. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

A truly powerful perspective shift. (author's note, illustrator's note) (Picture book. 3-adult)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175998208
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	10/21/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged
Age Range:	Up to 4 Years

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