FREE AT LAST: A Juneteenth Poem by Sojourner Kincaid Rolle & Alex Bostic
ABOUT THE BOOK
After 300 years of forced bondage;
hands bound, descendants of Africa
picked up their souls—all that they owned—
leaving shackles where they fell on the ground,
headed for the nearest resting place to be found.
Deeply emotional, evocative free verse by poet and activist Sojourner Kincaid Rolle traces the solemnity and celebration of Juneteenth from its 1865 origins in Galveston, Texas to contemporary observances all over the United States. This is an ode to the strength of Black Americans and a call to remember and honor a holiday whose importance reverberates far beyond the borders of Texas.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR
Sojourner Kincaid Rolle is a poet, playwright, and an environmental educator. She was the Poet Laureate of Santa Barbara, CA (2015-2017). Her book of poems for young people, The Mellow Yellow Global Umbrella, was published as an e-book and audio book by Lucky Penny Press. She lives in Irvine, California.
Alex Bostic began his career as a studio artist, working in Los Angeles and New York City. He lives in Mississippi and is an associate professor of art at Mississippi State University.
REVIEW
As a new national holiday in the United States, books about Juneteenth like Free at Last are especially important. This lovely picture book presents readers with a beautiful poem about the origins of the Juneteenth holiday. The poem focuses on the variety of responses that formerly enslaved people had to the news of the Emancipation Proclamation arriving in Texas in June 1865. The joy expressed is almost palpable. And yet, as the poem and the author's note at the end of the book make clear, the announcement didn't solve all the problems facing the newly freed. Slavery didn't officially end until the 13th Amendment was passed in December 1865. And even then that didn't change the prejudice and discrimination that they faced. Some stayed and tried to build a new life in Texas, others looked for a better life elsewhere. But what this powerful poem shows so clearly is the powerful emotions to be found in the freedom to choose one's own course in life. And that is something well worth celebrating at any time of year. The official holiday provides an important reminder of not only a significant moment in time and those who experienced it but the importance of continuing to build a better world. Bostic's beautiful illustrations wonderfully highlight some of the emotions and experiences of both past and present. This book is both a wonderful teaching tool, but an inspiring reminder of why this holiday is so important.
SAMPLE SPREADS
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