Module 5 - My People

Module 5 - My People

Summary

This book is Langston Hughes' poem My People, set to pictures by illustrator Charles R. Smith Jr.   The poem celebrates African-Americans of all types, from light to dark, old to young, from outside in.  The text of the poem is set against sepia-toned pictured of smiling faces.

My impressions

I thought this book was really beautiful.  I love how Hughes and Smith manage to celebrate African-Americans without tearing any other ethnicities down, because too often discussions of race or ethnicity center on which is better or worse.  They also manage to show that being part of a group does not make the group homogenous.  Each photograph shows a person, not an African American.  People are so much more than the color of their skin.  This book does a great job of driving that point home. 

Reviews

Reviewers loved this book also.  The book is a Coretta Scott King award winner.  It was reviewed by School Library Journal's Wendy Lukehart, who stated that the "artful images engage in a lyrical and lively dance with Langston Hughes’s brief ode to black beauty" (Lukehart).  She notes that although the poem is only 33 words, their presentation adds to their impact. It was also reviewed by Kirkus, who noted that the "simple yet brilliant photographs" "joyfully celebrate the diversity of African-American culture" (Anonymous, 2008).

Use in a library

This would be a great book to share during African American History month as part of a broader celebration of African American culture.  It would also be good for older students in the form of a poetry workshop.  Students are sometimes reluctant to engage with poetry because it is not the easiest literary form to analyze.  This poem is short, and the illustrator has explained his rationale for choosing the pictures in the end notes.  It would be a great way to get kids thinking about poetry and what it can say. 

References

Anonymous. (2008). Hughes, Langston: My people. Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved from Literature Resource Center.

Hughes, L. (2009). My people. New York, NY: Atheneum Books.  

Lukehart, W. (2009). My People by Langston Hughes. School Library Journal. Retrieved from http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6636037.html?nid=2413&source=title&rid=555067448.