MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD: Allies Matter

little bee books, 2020

Countless lessons can be learned from stories shared during BLACK HISTORY MONTH.  MAKING THEIR VOICES HEARD: The Inspiring Friendship of Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe, with words by Vivian Kirkfield and art by Alleanna Harris, reveals a story I had never about an important connection between two iconic women who are widely (and rightly) admired. 
Count me among those admirers. 
After exploring the book, including the informative author notes at the back, I admire both women even more. 
I'm equally impressed by the storyteller. Within the limited word counts and pages of a picture book, Kirkfield has provided a parallel-then-intersecting story that reads with all the drama and excitement of a fictional plot. Its power is magnified by some lesser-known details about these two talented and courageous lives. 
Within the limited format of a picture book, Kirkfield has presented each of their early struggles and the circumstances that led to their "discovery" and eventual fame. Each experienced injustice and prejudice, for different reasons. In each case, those unfair treatments limited opportunities and outlets for their talents. 
The fact that they were fans of each other, from a distance, was an appealing detail that led to their eventual friendship. Marilyn's effort to learn from Ella's singing opened doors for her professional movie career. 
Ending the story there would have been interesting, but that would have ignored the more important story of two iconic allies.
I was impressed that Monroe took intentional steps to convey her gratitude, to use her position of privilege to support Ella's crossing of color barriers and career advancement. Harris's approach to illustration offers nuances of intense color tones, soft edges, theatrical lighting, and glossy pages that suit the story perfectly. Kirkfield has used the back pages to enhance the main text with rich and deeply researched details as well as providing resources that work for young readers and adults to learn more. 
There are plenty of reasons to share this during theme months of February (Black History) and March (Women's History). This nonfiction book traces a path from fandom, to ally-ship, to lifetime friendship. Its value serves readers well throughout the year to inspire us all to follow a similar path. 
Not likely to fame and stardom.
This revelation of the mutual support between Ella Fitzgerald and Marilyn Monroe offers a guide for present day, everyday decisions. It can inspire us by increasing awareness of ways to serve as allies. 
Certainly, its natural to do so in the lives of those we know and care about. Our challenge should be to do so across the margins of our usual contacts, to those who cross our path but to whom we owe nothing. Who knows what might develop?
At the very least we can extended a hand of support to someone else. 

This is not a new video, but it is one worth sharing. 
(Scroll down to the active clip. It only takes a few minutes, and is worth it.)

Burger King NO-BULLY campaign, 2017

For more details and praise from others, check reviews from KIRKUS (here), and Darlene Beck-Jacobson's blog (here). 

Happy Birthday, MLK, Jr., My Hero.

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King, Jr.

You’re a hero to so many, but I’d like to take a moment to tell you why you are mine.

When sharing your accomplishments with students, describing the doors you opened, opportunities you produced, changes resulting from your leadership in the USA and the world, my admiration is evident to them.

Then I tell them about my experience in high school.

I was on a mission since elementary school to go away to college, which would be out of the question without a major scholarship. I not only dreamed it, I worked for it: in academics, activities, social choices.  In senior year I achieved an incredible goal- earning a portable scholarship that would give me a “free ride” at any university of my choice, as long as I could get in. (You’ll remember those were the days when $10,000 could actually pay for four years at a premier school.)

And yet I could not even apply to Harvard, Yale, or Notre Dame, nor to any of the military academies. Acceptance at any one of these was an American benchmark of academic success. So whether or not I even chose to attend one of them, I was denied the chance to test my credentials against the best seniors in the country.

At that time, those schools didn’t even accept applications from “my kind” of people.

At this point I can’t resist asking students why I, with my fair skin and blonde hair, would be excluded.

Time after time, someone finally wonders aloud- “Are you really black?”

Once the laughing subsides, I tell them the truth.

I tell them that you are my personal hero because your leadership resulted in laws that ended discrimination against me. And I explain that those laws established the right for each and every one of them to choose goals and work toward them with their only limits being their own hard work and perseverance. 

And that if I wanted to attend any of those universities today I was now free to apply.

Because, thanks to your leadership, risks, and sacrifices, along with those of so many others, now every one of those schools accepts women. That change took place too late for me.

So, Martin, not just on your birthday or during Black History Month, I thank you for your vision and accomplishments. You threw open the doors of opportunity for me and for everyone else to live in a country that guarantees equality, or recourse when that has been denied.

And Martin, we still have a long way to go, but the story of the struggle continues to be told, with picture books often leading the way. Here’s hoping teachers and families will find some here to share.

Martin’s Big Words by Dorren Rappaport/Bryan Collier, 2001 Caldecott Honor Book. Hyperion Books for Children.

Don’t miss the inspiring author’s/illustrator’s notes and Collier’s dedication.

My Brother Martin: A Sister Remembers by Christine King Ferris/Chris Soentpiet. 2003. Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers.

Read the afterward in which Christine writes about her brother as a young child. Back matter includes the illustrator’s notes and the tribute poem by Mildred D. Johnson- share with kids!

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans. Kadir Nelson. 2011. Balzer and Bray (Harper Collins)  *Fingers crossed for Caldecott and/or Newberry *

One hundred pages of compelling artwork and first person narration by a fictional African America relating a personally connected history of Africans in America from the 1600’s to the present. Don’t overlook the dedication or the extensive back matter, including timeline, bibliography, author’s note, and index. 


See what young people in the  Milwaukee area have to say about MLKJr's  Legacy in their lives.