Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual
Carole Boston Weatherford
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Standing in the Need of Prayer: A Modern Retelling of the Classic Spiritual
Carole Boston Weatherford
A picture book based on the popular spiritual. The classic lyrics have been reworked to chronicle the milestones, struggles, tragedies, and triumphs of African American history. Stretching more than four hundred years, this book features pivotal moments in history, such as the arrival of enslaved people in Jamestown, Virginia, in 1619; Nat Turner's rebellion; the integration of the US military; the Selma to Montgomery marches; and peaceful present-day protests. It also celebrates the feats of African American musicians and athletes, such as Duke Ellington and Florence Griffith Joyner. The end of the book includes descriptions of the people, places, and events featured, along with a note from the author.
Publication Year: 2022
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Summary: Standing in the Need of Prayer is a children's book that retells Black American History through the words of a popular spiritual. It shows the progress that has been made but doesn't stray from the harsh realities of the history Black Americans have faced. It shows modern and historical leaders through the rewritten words of the spiritual, Standing in the Need of Prayer.
Illustration: The illustration in this book is beautiful and powerful. From the beginning the illustrator does not shy away from difficult imagery, showing the harsh realities of life for Black Americans in the South. The imagery is jarring and scary but becomes more hopeful and exciting as the story continues. As history develops the imagery lightens up and becomes stronger and brighter representing kids as they see the world today.
The writing felt like a song, partly because it is. The writing in the book is a retelling of a popular spiritual, the history of which is strongly rooted in Black American culture. Spirituals were often sung on plantations representing hope amongst the struggles of slaves as they dealt with horrendous and dehumanizing treatment. The use of a spiritual to give agency back and discuss how far Black Americans have come since those days lends hope to future change and a renewal of the spirit in fighting for that change. While that is something that young children may not pick up on, it's a useful observation for adults reading the story because they can discuss how much history has changed over time.
The major theme in this story is hope. Hope for the future, hope for change, and hope for a world free of the strife of the past. This story goes from shades of brown and gray to a world of color showing how history has changed and opened up over time. The changemakers and leaders are shown in full color representing the hope they bring to the world. The words in the book become more hopeful and feature a call to action as the book progresses. The book's hope in the future is evident in every aspect and is a beautiful addition to any library or classroom.
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