African Americans Who Were First [Hardcover]

Constance Claytor (Author), Joan Potter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1997 | Age Level: 9 and up

The history of America is not complete without including the contributions and achievements of African Americans. What does it take to be the best, to be the very first? Many African Americans dared to succeed, often in the face of overwhelming odds. Their contributions and achievements are part of America's history and deserve to be known more widely. Read these stories of African Americans who were first in a variety of fields from medicine to politics, to sports and the entertainment world. Moses Fleetwood Walker was the first African American to play major league baseball. Bessie Coleman was the first African-American woman to earn a pilot's license. Hattie McDaniel was first to win an Oscar. Some of the names will be unfamiliar. Discover the black heritage of courage and achievement passed on by both famous and little-known men and women.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4 Up. A collection of biographical notes about African Americans whose achievements in their fields are not usually covered in collective biographies for young readers. Most entries are only one-page long; many are accompanied by black-and-white photos. The table of contents lists five categories that, unfortunately, do little to indicate the diversity of talents in the book. "First African Americans" presents 18th-century figures such as poet Phillis Wheatley and doctor James Derham; "African Americans Today" summarizes first contributors of the 20th century such as Poet Laureate Rita Dove, Nobel Prize in Literature winner Toni Morrison, and police chief Beverly Harvard. There are some errors. Arthur Ashe is listed as the first to win a major tennis title. That honor goes to Althea Gibson, who was the first African American to win at Wimbleton and Forest Hills. Another error is the title of the song by Thomas A. Dorsey, which is "Precious Lord, Take My Hand." Pass on this one and hope for a corrected edition in the future.?Marie Wright, University Library, Indianapolis, IN
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

A sound-bite presentation of 65 African-Americans who were ``first'' at something. Potter and Claytor urge readers ``to let the lives of these courageous people guide you in setting your own goals.'' The list begins in the American colonies and continues on to the present: Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American to publish a book, in 1773; James Derham, the first African-American doctor; Alexander Twilight, the first African-American to earn a college degree, in 1823, at Middlebury College; Toni Morrison, the first African-American to win a Nobel Prize in Literature. Each vignette begins with a caption of that person's ``first,'' but these are limiting, and do not always illustrate the featured person's real importance. Harriet Tubman is called the ``first African-American woman to appear on a postage stamp''; only in the middle of the page-long biographical information is the Underground Railroad mentioned. Similarly, Booker T. Washington is featured as the ``first African-American to have his portrait on a postage stamp,'' perhaps because his other successes do not lend themselves to a quick caption. A worthy listing, but only a first stop on the way to further research. (b&w photos, index, not seen) (Nonfiction. 9-13) -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Dutton Juvenile; 1st edition (September 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0525652469
• ISBN-13: 978-0525652465
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,585,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A great African American short history, March 11, 2002

By 

Beverly C. Sanders (USA, Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: African Americans Who Were First (Hardcover)

This book is written for ages 9-14 and I believe the information is written at that level of understanding. It is written very clear and concise. The story or life of the 29 members in this book is different from most of the African Americans who were brought to the American shore starting 1619. It is noted that Phyllis Wheatley was brought to Boston, Massachusetts around 1761. She became a poetess after learning to read and write. She was quite lucky to have been allowed to learn to read and write as most of the other slaves were not allowed that priviledge. She is noted to have had published her first book of poems in 1773 when she was about 22 years old. The book goes on from there enumerating the discoveries and firsts that 28 other African Americans participated in up to the 21st century.

I recommend that every child as well as adult read this informative book of American firsts