Module 2: African American Literature THE BLACKER THE BERRY

THE BLACKER THE BERRY

"Colors without black, couldn't sparkle quite so bright"

Thomas, Joyce Carol. THE BLACKER THE BERRY. Ill. by Floyd Cooper. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN9780060253769

Plot Summary

A collection of twelve poems that warmly and lovingly illustrate the many shades or African American children take the reader on a color palette discovery. "What Shade is Human?" begins the journey of relating varying hues of color to children and the value of each. Milk comes in different flavors as well as different types and necessary for the survival of babies. Dark, sweet, juicy blackberries are especially delicious. Sometimes colors are mixed and produce a beautiful color that should be celebrated as the mixing of "raspberries stirred into blackberries" to simulate the African-Native-American culture. Thomas uses a variety of berries to illustrate that like the wonderful goodness of the fruit, the people representing those colors are just as wonderful. Biscuits, toast, the color of eggplant,the warmth of sunshine on your face; all these images Thomas uses to celebrate the wonderful diverseness of color in African American children.

Critical Analysis

Floyd Cooper's warm, luminous illustrations highlight precious children and their uniqueness in regards to the color of their skin. The use of warm rich colors, smiling faces and shining eyes marry with Joyce Carol Thomas' text to produce a children's book to help remind children how unique and wonderful they are. Cooper's portraits show differences in hair. The illustrations in "Coffee Will Make You Black" shows the grandmother with a kerchief wrapped around her head while the young grandson with black, short, curly-hair loving wraps his arms around her neck. Corn-rows

pig-tails, long, and curly hair are evident in his illustrations of children. The setting throughout the book is rural with a heavy emphasis on nature.

Thomas gives value to the child who comes from different cultures, highlighting the strength of the ancestor. In "Raspberry Black" the young child learns that his African American grandmother loved her Seminole Indian husband. "Cranberry Red" alludes to differences due to Irish ancestry, each realizing people of their past make them the unique children of today. This collection of poems flows without the use of dialects or specific language patterns. Mama and Papa, Grandma, Grandmother, are names used in these poems. Themes of acceptance, diversity, and value are seen in the illustrations as well as the text.

Reviews

Horn Book: "This collection will encourage African American children to embrace the skin they're in and, by extension, invite children of all races to enjoy whatever their heritage has made them."

Booklist: "Black comes in all shades from dark to light, and each is rich and beautiful in this collection of simple, joyful poems and glowing portraits that show African american diversity and connections."

Connections/Awards:

ALL THE COLORS WE ARE, written by Katie Kissinger, Wernher Krutein photographer

THE SKIN I'M IN: A FIRST LOOK AT RACISM, written by Pat Thomas,

Lesley Harker illustrator

2009 Coretta Scott King Award

2009 ALA Notable Children's Books - Middle Readers

2008 Editor's Choice Children's Books