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The Middle Passage
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From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Sat, 19 Jun 1999 18:20:59 -0500
I have a picture in my mind of the CCBC-Net community. In my imagination we're gathered in a large auditorium. One or more of us is moderating a large-group discussion on a topic we're all thinking about during a particular time. One after the other, several individuals step forward and contribute to the discussion by speaking into (remember this is hypothetical) mikes placed in the auditorium aisles. Everyone else listens. Perhaps they take notes. Maybe they make a remark to the person seated next to them. Sometimes there are lots of people at the mikes. Occasionally, only a few. From time to time, the gathered community takes a break, a breather. That's what we've been doing, more or less, during the past few days. From the flurry of messages at the end of May and beginning of June, I think we had a consensus to take a break. We've been out of the auditorium refreshing ourselves. Maybe talking with friends. Making calls. Whatever. That's OK...
Some of you wonder if you're still connected to CCBC-Net. You are. So, let's think together about the book "The Middle Passage" by Tom Feelings (Dial, 1995).
As someone has already pointed out, this unique volume can be found in the Art section of many bookstores and libraries. Why? Because it was promoted as an adult book, as well as being published and promoted by Dial Books for Young Readers. It's truly a "cross-over" book.
This book is a handsome, poweful visual exploration of painful history: the tragic capture of literally countless Africans forced from their villages and their transport across the Atlantic to ports in/near North American coasts throughout the centuries of slavery. Tom Feelings spent more than a decade creating the art for "The Middle Passage." Mr. Feelings literally "went down into the hold" with the captured men and women because of what he had to learn and what he then had to think about while creating the art. I remember when I heard Tom say something such as this: "We're on land now. The air is fresh. But more suffering awaits us." To remark that this artist identified with his subject would be an enormous understatement. Tom Feelings's genuine pain has been transformed into art that can produce anguish by anyone open to the real content of these pages.
Given that "The Middle Passage" has been formally acknowledged by children's/young adult book award committees and named as one of the best of the year by several children's & young adult literature journals and annual lists, can some of you attest to its impact on middle school and/or high school youth? on adults? In what ways is
"The Middle Passage" valuable to some of the youth with whom you have contact? Why? It's time to step up to the mike. Don't wait for someone else, if you have something to say. ...Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse (gmkruse at ccbc.education.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) A Library of the School of Education (www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/) University of Wisconsin - Madison Open for public service: Monday-Saturday between now & August 6, 9:00
- 4:00 (CDT). Closed on July 5.
Received on Sat 19 Jun 1999 06:20:59 PM CDT
Date: Sat, 19 Jun 1999 18:20:59 -0500
I have a picture in my mind of the CCBC-Net community. In my imagination we're gathered in a large auditorium. One or more of us is moderating a large-group discussion on a topic we're all thinking about during a particular time. One after the other, several individuals step forward and contribute to the discussion by speaking into (remember this is hypothetical) mikes placed in the auditorium aisles. Everyone else listens. Perhaps they take notes. Maybe they make a remark to the person seated next to them. Sometimes there are lots of people at the mikes. Occasionally, only a few. From time to time, the gathered community takes a break, a breather. That's what we've been doing, more or less, during the past few days. From the flurry of messages at the end of May and beginning of June, I think we had a consensus to take a break. We've been out of the auditorium refreshing ourselves. Maybe talking with friends. Making calls. Whatever. That's OK...
Some of you wonder if you're still connected to CCBC-Net. You are. So, let's think together about the book "The Middle Passage" by Tom Feelings (Dial, 1995).
As someone has already pointed out, this unique volume can be found in the Art section of many bookstores and libraries. Why? Because it was promoted as an adult book, as well as being published and promoted by Dial Books for Young Readers. It's truly a "cross-over" book.
This book is a handsome, poweful visual exploration of painful history: the tragic capture of literally countless Africans forced from their villages and their transport across the Atlantic to ports in/near North American coasts throughout the centuries of slavery. Tom Feelings spent more than a decade creating the art for "The Middle Passage." Mr. Feelings literally "went down into the hold" with the captured men and women because of what he had to learn and what he then had to think about while creating the art. I remember when I heard Tom say something such as this: "We're on land now. The air is fresh. But more suffering awaits us." To remark that this artist identified with his subject would be an enormous understatement. Tom Feelings's genuine pain has been transformed into art that can produce anguish by anyone open to the real content of these pages.
Given that "The Middle Passage" has been formally acknowledged by children's/young adult book award committees and named as one of the best of the year by several children's & young adult literature journals and annual lists, can some of you attest to its impact on middle school and/or high school youth? on adults? In what ways is
"The Middle Passage" valuable to some of the youth with whom you have contact? Why? It's time to step up to the mike. Don't wait for someone else, if you have something to say. ...Ginny
Ginny Moore Kruse (gmkruse at ccbc.education.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC) A Library of the School of Education (www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/) University of Wisconsin - Madison Open for public service: Monday-Saturday between now & August 6, 9:00
- 4:00 (CDT). Closed on July 5.
Received on Sat 19 Jun 1999 06:20:59 PM CDT
