Voice of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer
written by Carole Boston Weatherford
illustrated by Ekua Holmes
Candlewick Press, 2015
Winner 2016 Caldecott Honor & Sibert Honor awards
Carole Weatherford and Ekua Holmes collaborate to create a masterful biography of the woman known as the Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement. Brilliant artwork deepens the meaning of the lyrical prose of the story. The text is infused with specific quotes and gives the reader the flavor that they whole thing is autobiographical when in fact it is a biography told in first person. Each spread depicts a different event or time in the life of Fannie Lou Hamer, 20th child to Mississippi sharecroppers who grows up to become a civil rights leader and one of the three women in a group to be the first African American women to sit in Congress.
One of my favorite quotes is,
I feel sorry for anybody that could let hate wrap them up.
Ain’t no such thing as I can hate anybody
and hope to see God’s face.
Out of one blood God made all nations.
It’s no wonder this book won both a Caldecott Honor and a Sibert Honor this year.
I’ll have to check out this book because I can’t honestly remember if I heard of Fannie Lou Hamer. I do know that back when I was in school we never learned about her – surprise! She sounds fascinating and I have to agree with Patricia that the quote is powerful. Thank you for this review.
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You’re right Stephanae. She is someone I had never heard of before either. I think it’s great that people are starting to interview and write about the lesser known heroes and everyday people, and especially that children are some of the first to learn about them!
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It is such a good thing that we are hearing about people who made significant contributions to our history and for children to be among the first to learn their stories is wonderful. Ironically after I read your post yesterday I came across an audio of Fannie Lou Hamer.
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I am embarrassed to say that I did not know of Fannie Lou Hamer. I love stories like this. The artwork makes her look larger than life. And, I especially love her comments about hate. So beautiful!
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I agree Pat. It is a beautiful book. I wish I had seen it earlier in the year.
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