The ABC's of Black History

Just in time for Black History Month and every other month, too! Baltimore-based, black attorney Craig Thompson presents us with The ABCs of Black History. The ABCs celebrates 26 notable greats, past and present, like Booker T. Washington, Fannie Lou Hamer, Malcolm X, and Oprah Winfrey. A short and catchy rhyme accompanies each color-rich illustration of the historic figure. The ABCs recognizes lesser-known individuals who made their mark in our society, like Garret Morgan, inventor of the traffic light, and Lee Elder, the first black golfer invited to play in the Masters Tournament. Thompson wrote the book as a result of his fruitless search for children’s books after the birth of his daughter. He wanted cultural relevance, bright colors, and catchy rhymes. “I wanted something that would be ideal for children of all ages,” says Thompson. “But I also wanted to motivate them to know their history. So I combine vivid portraits with easy-to-remember lyrics from A to Z to motivate them to know their history.” The book isn’t just for black parents and their children. In fact, Thompson hopes that The ABCs will “introduce children of all races to important people, places, and events in black history, while providing parents with the rich-color contrasts, illustrations, and rhyming patterns that they need for the proper development of their children.”