"This vivid survey of Black history leaps off the page." — Publishers Weekly
“In this vibrant, inclusive collection, McCalman honors the legacies of 145 Black Americans whose societal contributions cannot be overstated. His profiles and watercolors are wonderfully diverse, including both live and deceased; recognizable and lesser known; contemporary and historic... Accessible, important, and germane to the very fabric of American life, this moving collection of illustration and biography artistically reflects struggle, achievement, and perseverance... An enthusiastic, informative, and essential ode to Black American history.” — Kirkus Reviews
"A unique and engaging entry point into Black history that will no doubt inspire further research into extraordinary figures from the past and present." — Booklist
"Black icons and pioneers honored in a stunning new collection... The work is a testament to the urgency of our time here: how little of it there is, and how much we can give despite it." — San Francisco Chronicle
“I have always gotten such a lift from George McCalman’s work—both spiritual and visual. His charming, informed, and always heartfelt art says so much about Black American life and history that he is now an essential part of the dialogue. What a gift this book is.” — Hilton Als, critic for The New Yorker, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism
“In Illustrated Black History, George McCalman brings all of his brilliance—his whole heart, his keen artistic eye, his command of the written word—to this dazzling celebration of Black people. Not since Toni Morrison’s The Black Book has Black history been so vibrantly or imaginatively catalogued. We are all richer and wiser for it.” — Natalie Baszile, bestselling author of Queen Sugar and We Are Each Other's Harvest
“Black history remains dynamic, yet certain assumptions are often baked into text. Illustrated Black History invites us with a beginner’s mind to stay rooted in community to keep the past alive. George McCalman’s pen projects the lives of Black luminaries who, for as long as they have shone, deserve richer tones and subtle shades, too. This book will serve as a lighthouse whose sweeping lamp will unsettle staid perspectives and confirm what most of us know in our hearts: Black people have led irresistibly exciting lives across time.” — George Aumoithe, Assistant Professor of History and African American Studies, Harvard
“The experiences and narratives of Black folk throughout time and space are boundless. As you read and study the images throughout this captivating work you will appreciate the respect shown in honoring both the collective and individual histories: from the figures chosen; the essays written; and the range of mediums and approaches used in the over 140 beautiful portraits. The care and reverence shown to the Black lived experiences shines clear in this brilliant and timely work that captures both the known and especially the unseen.” — Anyabwile Love, PHD, History and Black Studies professor, Community College of Philadelphia.
“Through his design studio, George McCalman has created book covers and print images that draw readers in to want to open the pages and discover more. He’s taken that same approach with this book, serving as a griot, beautifully sharing the stories of astounding and often undercelebrated people, who are united by their Blackness toward a common goal of equality and a fairer society for all.” — Wyatt Cenac, Comedian
2022-09-23
Inspiring profiles and portraits of pioneering figures in Black history.
In this vibrant, inclusive collection, McCalman honors the legacies of 145 Black Americans whose societal contributions cannot be overstated. His profiles and watercolors are wonderfully diverse, including both live and deceased; recognizable and lesser known; contemporary and historic. Among them are early-19th-century mixologist Cato Alexander, a former enslaved person who “invented the word cocktail”; Mary McLeod Bethune, a single mother who founded educational institutions and empowerment councils for Black women in the early 20th century, including what became Bethune-Cookman College; Ralph Bunche, “the first African American and the first person of color to receive the Nobel Peace Prize,” in 1950; legendary choreographer Katherine Dunham; and Harlem jazz singer Baby Esther Jones, “the embodiment of cultural appropriation and what that does to the sense of self.” The author also highlights many household names, including basketball legend and lifelong activist Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, iconic poet Maya Angelou, activist and author James Baldwin, Aretha Franklin, Lena Horne, and trailblazing artists Jean-Michel Basquiat and Romare Bearden. Collectively, McCalman spotlights these remarkable Black luminaries for their accomplishments and “to see the hardships and sacrifices, but also hear the laughter” [and] “feel the inner definition of self-reliance.” In addition to these portraits, McCalman includes inspiring essays from such distinguished writers as journalist and human rights activist Emil Wilbekin and James Beard and NAACP Image Award–winning chef and author Bryant Terry. The author’s inclusion of former neurosurgeon and controversial politician Ben Carson may be a questionable choice for some, but he fair-mindedly calls out Carson’s medical successes alongside the contentious political decisions that have undermined his reputation. Accessible, important, and germane to the very fabric of American life, this moving collection of illustration and biography artistically reflects struggle, achievement, and perseverance. Some of McCalman’s other subjects include Octavia Butler, Shirley Chisholm, Claudette Colvin, Althea Gibson, and Dick Gregory.
An enthusiastic, informative, and essential ode to Black American history.
