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Ellington Was Not a Street
by Ntozake Shange
Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
In a reflective tribute to the African-American community of old, noted poet Ntozake Shange recalls her childhood home and the close-knit group of innovators that often gathered there. These men of vision, brought to life in the majestic paintings of artist Kadir Nelson, lived at a time when the color of their skin dictated where they could live, what schools they could attend, and even where they could sit on a bus or in a movie theater.
Yet in the face of this tremendous adversity, these dedicated souls and others like them not only demonstrated the importance of Black culture in America, but also helped issue in a movement that "changed the world." Their lives and their works inspire us to this day, and serve as a guide to how we approach the challenges of tomorrow.
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Let's Talk:
Ideas to Explore Together
Before you read: By looking at the cover, what do you think this book will be about?
After you read: Do you think you would like to write a poem about something which happened to you today?
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