Overview

This powerful picture book biography spotlights Septima Poinsette Clark, the civil rights leader who taught Black adults how to combat Jim Crow-era voting regulations. Written by Septima's granddaughter, Yvonne Clark-Rhines, along with acclaimed author Monica Clark-Robinson, this is a must-have for readers who were moved by Hidden Figures, The Oldest Student, and I Am Ruby Bridges. Septima Clark was born poor, Black, and a girl. Being one of those things in 1898 was hard, but all three meant that access to education was going to be a fight. But with strong, hard-working women in her life, a determination to learn, and a passion for knowledge, Septima learned to read and write against all odds. With stunning art by debut illustrator Abigail Albano-Payton, this lyrical biography charts the monumental life of one tenacious woman--once referred to as The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.--who made it her mission to bring equity to literacy. Thanks to her efforts, the Black community was able to rise up against oppressive Jim Crow laws that tried to stifle their votes. Septima persevered through adversity, discrimination, and even wrongful arrests to ensure that the road to liberation remained open for all people. This story is a testament to the power and importance of community-minded action.

Full Product Details

9798260500897

Table of Contents

Reviews

""In this illuminating picture book biography, Clark-Rhines and Clark-Robinson frame the life of civil rights activist and teacher Septima Clark as one driven by the subject's passion for education and belief in equality. Emotionally driven text introduces the figure's message of perseverance at significant moments, while Albano-Payton's thickly stroked oil illustrations supply expressive portraits on every spread."" - Publishers Weekly (starred review) ""The lyrical prose and expressive oil-on-canvas illustrations effectively convey the story of this gifted teacher who effectively helped 700,000 Black people become voters. This laudatory account is a fitting tribute to an icon who fittingly believed that 'continued learning is the basis for being richly alive.'"" - Booklist (starred review) ""An eloquent tribute to the character and achievements of a decidedly undersung mover and shaker of the Civil Rights Movement."" - Kirkus Reviews ""The text is clear, informative, and direct, punctuated with various iterations of the hymn, ""Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'round,"" to create a rhythmic introduction to an oft-overlooked civil rights leader. The thick brushstrokes combine with bold, complementary colors to saturate the pages and create a sense of depth in which both realistic scenes and more conceptual motifs play out. Pair this with McDaniel's Go Forth and Tell: The Life of Augusta Baker, Librarian and Master Storyteller for a look at Black educators who countered racism and sexism with passionate teaching and outreach."" - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books A fitting tribute to an often-overlooked Black woman of the civil rights movement. - The Horn Book Magazine

Author Information

Yvonne Clark-Rhines is the granddaughter of the legendary civil rights leader Septima Poinsette Clark. Raised by her beloved Mama Seppie from the age of four, she spent her early years at the Highlander Folk School in Monteagle, Tennessee, before moving to Charleston, South Carolina. As a teenager, Yvonne became an active participant in the civil rights movement, marching alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s organization, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), as well as the local community in support of the Charleston Hospital strike, which demanded fair treatment for African American hospital workers. Inspired by her grandmother's legacy, Yvonne dedicated over a decade of her life to working with the SCLC. Yvonne later spent nearly three decades as a director of marketing and compliance for Medicare Health Plans. She now resides in Georgia with her family. Monica Clark-Robinson is passionate about stories--writing them, acting them out onstage, and reading them. She believes that learning the stories of our past can help us build the story for our future. She is the author of Let the Children March, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book for Illustration and a Kirkus Best Book, and Standing on Her Shoulders, a Junior Library Guild Gold Choice. She lives in Little Rock, Arkansas, with her family. From a young age, Abigail Albano-Payton has used visual art to explore the world that surrounds her. Over the years, she began to raise discussions on social and racial equity, recognition, and homelife within her work. She graduated with a BFA at Laguna College of Art + Design. She has been featured in numerous exhibitions across the United States and published in editorials such as Blanc magazine, Southwest Art magazine, and more. In her spare time, Abigail loves to create personal work in her studio with her dog, Coco, by her side. abigailalbano.com

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