An Overdue Accounting: DAVE THE POTTER: Artist, Poet, Slave

 Some things are not given full credit because of ignorance. Others are not credited because of  oversight. Still others are intentional misrepresentations or denials. In this case, I haven't shared my love of this particular picture book, now fifteen years old. Reasons for that include that I didn't launch this  blog until a few years later. Just find and ask those who dealt with me in person before that launch and you will find many among them to whom I praised this glorious book. Though I struggle with naming favorites among the many books I love, this one would appear on my list of highly recommended picture books.

LITTLE, BROWN:
Books for Young Readers, 2010

DAVE THE POTTER: Artist, Poet, Slave is written by Laban Carrick Hill and illustrated by the incomparable Bryan Collier. It is a lyrical narrative and richly illustrated account of a documented man. One documentation of him would be on the property listings of the man who enslaved him.  David Drake, though he was not accounted for with the dignity of a full name in those listings. His pottery creations were notably desirable, in size and artistry and quality. So much so, in fact that his skill and art gave him a bit of protection for a bold choice. He  risked signing many of his works and inscribed lines of poetry in some, opening him to possible severe punishments for proof of his ability to read and write.

In fact, this Caldecott-honored book is only one of several that were published since this one drawing more contemporary attention to the fact that Dave's work was taken from him, in the sense that his labor and its products were as much "property" as he was of the man who claimed to own Dave.

This long-time favorite of mine (THERE, I said it. This is a FAVORITE!) was called to mind by a recent NPR report about a Boston museum returning their two stoneware jars created by Dave to his descendants. A brief (only four minutes) account of the gathering and celebration of DAVE and of identifying his family continuity can be heard on this NPR Morning Edition piece. I hope you will LISTEN, then consider reading this gorgeous book about a remarkable human. His voice and talent were not given credit during his lifetime, but they can be now. Don't overlook DAVE yet again.