Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre
Author: Brandy Colbert . Date: 2021.
ISBN: 9780063056664.
Publisher: Balzer + Bray.
Genre: Nonfiction.
Reading Level: Grades 7-12.
Trailer: Black lives matter. They matter today, they mattered tomorrow, and they mattered back in 1921 when police and white citizens of Tusla, Oklahoma murdered Black people and burned down Black neighborhoods and businesses. The only way to correct the racism under which America operates is to face it head on.
Head over to YouTube to learn more about the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921:
For years the incredible acts of violent racism that occurred from May 31, 1921 till June 1st 1921 in Tulsa, Oklahoma was referred to as a riot. The term riot was not employed to describe the horrible actions taken by white people against Black people in the town, no. The word was misused to describe the valiant efforts of Black people to defend themselves against economic and physical violence enacted by white people. Through Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre we gain a new perspective and context on the events of that day. Reframed as a massacre, the events of that day are described in detail from the moment they started to the ongoing reaction to the events. Author Brandy Colbert masterfully explains the socioeconomic and racial politics that framed the Tulsa Race Massacre and leaves readers with a greater understanding of the event itself and ongoing racism in America.
Created by: According to her website, Brandy Colbert is an accomplished YA author who currently resides in Los Angeles, California (Brandycolbert, n.d). In addition to being a successful writer, Colbert also serves as a faculty member at Hamline University's MFA program where she teaches about writing for children and young adults. One of her other books, Little & Lion, which is about a mixed family navigating life, loss, and mental illness, was the winner of the Stonewall Book Award winner!
Analysis: The task of unpacking the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre was not a small one. On the contrary, this event is part of the most complex racial issues in America and requires significant background knowledge to understand. The incredible thing about this novel is that Colbert supplements the telling of the events of the massacre with the greater historical and social context. As the reader progresses through the book they are able to grasp not only what happened, but how and why it happened as well.
When this event is discussed in lower academic settings like a high school the brutality is often softened by the lack of personal connection. The massacre is often presented as a riot enacted by anonymous people. One of the most riveting aspects of this book is the personal accounts of the day. Colbert presents the narratives of many different individuals and families on that day, which provides a well rounded view of the events. I am not a big non-fiction person and I found that the personal stories made this novel more empiric and narrative and less abstractly factual.
In the Library: This would be a great book to conduct a book club with. I would have participants read this book and then come into the library to discuss the book. I would love for participants to engage in a peaceful protest of racism around the library. There could be a sign making activity in which participants could write a message they want to get across in the protest.
Check out this video of Black Lives Matter protests from around the world!
Potential Issues: If there was an issue with this historical nonfiction book it would be rooted in racism. Anyone who objected to the book or the activity would be referred to the collection development policy which would hopefully include some message about the importance of representing the community and all the people in it.
Reason for Inclusion: This book is a fundamental element in understanding how racism operates in America. Including it in the collection provides customers the opportunity to inform themselves about what racism is and how it is still prevalent in our society today.
Sources:
Brandy Colbert. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.brandycolbert.com/
Goodreads. (n.d.). Black Birds in the Sky: The Story and Legacy of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Goodreads. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/56554639
Great Big Story. (2020, June 12). Black lives matter protests around the world. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vl4I0weXPU
Vox. (2019, February 27). The massacre of Tulsa's "Black wall street". YouTube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-ItsPBTFO0
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