Roeper_ILS

Bri Jackson is the daughter of an underground rapper who was killed when she was young in gang violence. She dreams of following in his footsteps and escaping poverty. When an overzealous security guard at her school violently targets Bri she records a song about it. The single becomes a viral hit, and Bri is excited at the prospects, until she realizes that her words are being taking literally and she is being viewed as a “hood rat,” an angry black girl. 

Bri will have to find a way to let her true voice shine, while fighting against the injustice against her and her fellow students. 

Young, Gifted and Black: Meet 52 Black Heroes from Past and Present  (2018)

Meet 52 icons of color from the past and present in this celebration of inspirational achievement—a collection of stories about changemakers to encourage, inspire and empower the next generation of changemakers. Jamia Wilson has carefully curated this range of black icons and the book is stylishly brought together by Andrea Pippins’ colorful and celebratory illustrations. Written in the spirit of Nina Simone’s song “To Be Young, Gifted, and Black,” this vibrant book is a perfect introduction to both historic and present-day icons and heroes. Meet figureheads, leaders and pioneers such as Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela and Rosa Parks, as well as cultural trailblazers and athletes like Stevie Wonder, Oprah Winfrey and Serena Williams. All children deserve to see themselves represented positively in the books they read. Highlighting the talent and contributions of black leaders and changemakers from around the world, readers of all backgrounds will be empowered to discover what they too can achieve. Strong, courageous, talented and diverse, these extraordinary men and women’s achievements will inspire a new generation to chase their dream… whatever it may be.

by Jamia Wilson (Author), Andrea Pippins (Illustrator)

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Jamia Wilson is the executive director and publisher of the Feminist Press. An activist and writer, Wilson has contributed to New York Magazine, the New York Times, The Today Show, CNN, BBC, Teen Vogue, Elle, Refinery 29, Rookie, and the Guardian. She is the author of Young, Gifted, and Black (Wide Eyed Editions), a co-author of Road Map for Revolutionaries (Ten Speed Press) and wrote the introduction and oral history to Together We Rise: Behind the Scenes at the Protest Heard Around the World (Dey Street Books).

Andrea Pippins is an illustrator and author who has a passion for creating images that reflect what she wants to see in art, media, and design. Her work has been featured in Essence Magazine, The New York Times, and O: The Oprah Magazine. She has worked with brands such as Bloomberg, Broadly, ESPN, The High Line, Lenny Letter, Lincoln Center, and the National Museum of African American History and Culture. Andrea is the author of: I Love My Hair, a coloring book featuring her illustrations celebrating various hairstyles and texture; Becoming Me, an interactive journal for young women to color, doodle, and brainstorm their way to a creative life; and We Inspire Me, a collection of essays, interviews, and advice on cultivating and empowering one’s own creative community. She also illustrated Young Gifted and Black and Step Into Your Power.