The Blacker the Berry by Joyce Carol Thomas

Title: The Blacker the Berry
Author/Illustrator: Joyce Carol Thomas/Floyd Cooper
Major Awards: Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts (NCTE); New York Public Library's "One Hundred Titles for Reading and Sharing"; Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book; Coretta Scott King Honor (Author & Illustrator); Cooperative Children's Book Center Choice; ALA Notable Children's Book
Genre: Fiction
Age: 5-8

This book is a collection of poems geared toward celebrating African Americans. This book celebrates the many shades of black people. One of the poems labeled "The Blacker the Berry" talked about how this girl was midnight and berries, she said since she was dark the moon and stars would shine brighter. The author mentions that the darker the berry the sweeter the juice. There wouldn't be day without the night and colors wouldn't shine brightly without black. Another poem tilted "Golden Goodness" talks about a girl who was picking huckleberries from a bush noticed the leaves were a shiny bronze color like that of her skin tone, and realized that the bush gave good things. She had asked her dad earlier if yellow was a good color and after seeing how it was in the garden when the sun reflected off it it, it was beautiful color to her. The illustrations with each poem really help it come to life, and we see different representations of African Americans. One poem talked about a girl who was albino and her poem was called "Snowberries."  It mentioned how people would say she's not really black, but she knew deep down that if she bled one drop of blood she was black, and didn't have to prove it to anyone. In the end it finishes with a poem called "Color Struck" highlighting the different shades of black beauty, each color is rich in its own right. It finishes by saying "We come in all shades-- Night, sun bright-- Color thick-- Color slight-- Color struck." That ending really touched me because I know the lasting effect it can have on young children who get teased, or bullied over their skin color, or don't feel comfortable in their own skin.

I think this book would be great for a young African American girl who didn't feel comfortable in her own skin. With social media mainstreaming what skin tone is a great color, it can affect young girls' confidence in who she is and maybe even guys. I think if I noticed any of my students who are African American, feeling less than, because they don't like their skin tone, or someone called them too dark, I would have them read some of these poems and let them know that their beautiful just as they are. I don't think this book would be used in a lesson, since it's more geared towards a specific ethnic group and not everyone could relate to what this book talks about. I think an appropriate age for this book would be children 5-8, but if some students who are older feel this way then it would be a great book to have.
- Peace. Love Giraffes.

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