Sam Cooke's legendary and beloved civil rights anthem is brought to life for the first time with stunning illustrations by Nikkolas Smith.
I was born by the river in a little tent.
Oh, and just like the river, I've been a-runnin' ever since.
It's been a long, a long time coming,
but I know a change gonna come. Oh yes, it will.
The immortal lyrics of Sam Cooke's inspiring civil rights anthem are among the most powerful in music history. Written as an ode to the struggles and joy of Black Americans living under the oppression of Jim Crow, "A Change Is Gonna Come" became a rallying cry for justice and equality when it was shared in 1964. Now, more than sixty years later, the fight for freedom continues, and these sweeping lyrics remain as important and soul stirring as ever.
Alongside Sam Cooke's inspiring words, Nikkolas Smith's breathtaking art guides young readers through pivotal moments in American history. The award-winning illustrator of The 1619 Project: Born on the Water, powerfully references civil rights milestones and Black freedom fighters, empowering all of us to continue the mission of change.
Includes a QR code link to Sam Cooke's iconic recording.
Ages 4 to 8.
Acclaimed artist Smith honors Cooke's legendary song with 1960s-inspired art. A Black child spies a camera floating on a plank in the river near the shack where he lives, and when he grows up and migrates to a city, he brings the camera with him. Paired with lyrics from Cooke's song-long considered a Civil Rights Movement anthem-scenes of urban life follow: signs proclaiming segregation, the funeral of Medgar Evers (an activist murdered in 1963 Mississippi), Lyndon Johnson signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964 into law as Martin Luther King Jr. looks on, people gathering for the March on Washington, a re-creation of a photo depicting Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali sitting at a lunch counter, and other milestones in the fight for racial justice. The man with the camera is present at many of these moments; a touching final spread portrays a Black child looking through photographs of those very scenes. Smith's signature painting style lends energy to the pages with formidable linework, superb use of darkness and light, and strong compositions, inviting readers to linger, parse the images, and discuss what's going on. . . . a window into history, this work offers a rich opportunity to introduce the topic to young people through art, music, personalities, events, and emotions, over multiple exposures. Potent and deeply moving. – Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review
Honoring the difficult past of American history while celebrating the strength and pride of the Black experience, this title focuses on the promise of the future and the fact, as Cooke's timeless lyrics tell readers, "I know a change is going to come. Oh yes it will." The art masterfully captures the heart and hope of the fictional and historical characters throughout the book. With a nod to the photographs of Gordon Parks, Smith has captured and added layers of depth to many historical moments that, along with the accompanying back matter, will have readers poring over the illustrations and learning through looking. On one particularly moving spread the text speaks of change; one side of the illustration features a mother and her five children holding various protest signs for housing and education rights and a call back to the broken promise of "40 acres and a mule." The opposite page shows the five children wearing graduation gowns, throwing their mortarboards in the air in front of their family-owned restaurant. Their mother is in the background. This title begs for multiple readings, along with scanning the included QR code that links to a recording of Cooke's iconic rendition of this anthem.
While honestly reflecting a difficult past, this title is full of hope and the promise of a future where change will come; an essential title for all libraries. – School Library Journal, Starred Review
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