Powerful Words

Publishers Weekly

Powerful Words: More Than 200 Years of Extraordinary Writing by African Americans, ed. by Wade Hudson, illus. by Sean Qualls, with a foreword by Marian Wright Edelman, combines the poetic words of the likes of Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston and the song lyrics of James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson's "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing" along with excerpts from Thurgood Marshall's Summary of Argument for Brown v. Board of Education; Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech delivered at Lincoln University (June 6, 1961) and Malcolm X's address at the Hotel Theresa in New York City (Dec. 31, 1964). Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature

In Powerful Words readers are afforded a grand opportunity to sample a few of the words of more than thirty of the most notable African-American writers of the past two centuries. In this solid collection author Wade Hudson follows a common organizational format. Each selection begins with a brief introduction. Then, the original authors prose, poetry, or transcribed speech is presented. The selection is followed by a brief biography of the writer. Finally, a short response to the selection is crafted, highlighting the effectiveness of the writer and his or her efforts. Taken as a whole this approach to African-American writings affords readers a smooth transition across the various writers included in this anthology and the varying time periods covered. What is also interesting about this book is the cadre of writers selected for inclusion. While there are such stalwarts as Dr. Martin Luther King, Langston Hughes, Malcolm X, and Richard Wright, there are also many other less commonly known artists and politically minded writers as well. This balance of highly notable and more quietly profound writers provides younger readers with a rich vein of cultural offerings to mine. Additionally, the illustrations crafted by Sean Qualls accent the words in a striking way. Thus, Powerful Words is a book that will be of value in school or home libraries where multicultural themes are valued. 2004, Scholastic, Ages 10 up.
—Greg M. Romaneck

Library Journal

Gr 5 Up-Hudson highlights the words of 36 well-known African-American men and women from colonial to contemporary times. Benjamin Banneker, Frederick Douglass, W. E. B. DuBois, Mary McLeod Bethune, Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Thurgood Marshall, and Toni Morrison are among the featured individuals. Marian Wright Edelman provides the foreword and is profiled later on in the book. Hudson bases his book on the writings of the subjects themselves, taken directly from speeches, books, essays, articles, letters, poems, and songs. The passages reflect the culture and conditions of the times, taking into account issues of slavery, discrimination, racism, and the growth and development of the African-American community. Most of the entries include a full-page, black-and-white drawing of the subject. For each one, Hudson gives a brief introduction to set the scene. Following each excerpt is a biographical sketch, as well as individual or public responses. The strength of this book rests on its illumination of the power of words to question, educate, inspire, and empower.-Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews

Taken from a variety of sources, including speeches, letters, essays, and poetry, powerful words of eminent African-Americans tell the history of the struggles to achieve freedom and then equality. From Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson to Lauryn Hill's hip-hop lyrics, the reader is presented with an astonishing array of eloquent, passionate discourse. Because many of the pieces are written in 18th- and 19th-century language and cadence, it might prove difficult for young readers. But Hudson sets the writing in context, and provides a biographical sketch, and includes information about the contemporary response in a four-page spread for each selection. An introduction, conclusion, author's note, time-line, list of sources, and index, all contribute to the wealth of information. Qualls's blue-toned portraits and eye-catching large-print quotes in gold and white on a blue manuscript are visually stimulating. Absorbing. (Nonfiction. 10+)