You So Black

by Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D., London Ladd (Illustrator)

Overview

Based on Theresa Wilson’s (a.k.a. Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D.’s) beautiful, viral spoken word poem of the same name, You So Black is a picture book celebration of the richness, the nuance, and the joy of Blackness.

Black is everywhere, and in everything, and in everyone—in the night sky and the fertile soil below. It’s in familial connections and invention, in hands lifted in praise and voices lifted in protest, and in hearts wide open and filled with love. Black is good.

Accompanied by powerful yet tender illustrations by award-winning illustrator London Ladd, Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D. has adapted her poem, full of gorgeous lyricism and imagery, to show readers the love, joy, resilience, and universality in the beauty of Blackness.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665900348
Publisher:	Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	01/10/2023
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	490,910
Product dimensions:	9.30(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD490L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

Theresa Wilson a.k.a. Theresa tha S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D. is a musical, lyrical and theatrical alchemist, sprinkling magic like hot sauce. She is best known for her appearance on the 2019 Trumpet Awards on Bounce TV, and the now viral recitation of “You So Black.” Theresa is from the south suburbs of Chicago but calls Atlanta home. She holds a degree in commercial music from Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois.

London Ladd is a graduate of Syracuse University with an MFA in illustration. He uses a unique mixed media approach, combining cut paper textured with acrylic paint, tissue paper and colored pencil to bring his diverse subjects to life. London’s artwork is steeped in intensity and emotion, a reflection of the artist himself. His hope is that You So Black will be passed down through generations, reaffirming African Americans’ strength, beauty, power and love. His goal is to open a visual arts community center where lower-income families can create their own art. London lives in Syracuse, New York.

Editorial Reviews

03/06/2023

S.O.N.G.B.I.R.D. transmutes her spoken-word poem of the same name into a reflective and rousing picture book celebration of Blackness. Expansive initial lines turn the titular phrase into a series of affirmations, kicking off: “You so Black, when you smile, the stars come out./ You so Black, when you’re born,/ the god come out.” Subsequent “Black is” statements describe the word both via specifics (“brilliant,” “strong”) and by embracing its multiplicity of meanings (“adjective,/ adverb,/ color, /and noun”). Employing a vibrant palette, Ladd’s mixed-media collage depicts dark-complected Black figures—varying ages, body types, hairstyles, and skin tones appear throughout—against saturated, stained glass–like backdrops that include visuals of pyramids and the night sky. On one page, a child in a unicorn shirt holds a star-topped wand (“Black is grace”); another highlights a civil rights demonstration (“Black is tough.../ Black is hard to do!”). It’s a potently messaged poem thoughtfully rendered. Ages 4–8. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

2023-01-12
A spoken-word artist adapts her melodic poem into a picture-book celebration of Blackness.

“You so Black, when you smile, the stars come out. / You so Black, when you’re born, / the god come out.” The poem begins by invoking the nighttime sky and stars before moving on to mathematics and the pyramids, both of which originated in Africa. The verses praise the physical, intellectual, and emotional attributes of Black people, highlight their creative contributions, and praise their resilience in the face of hardship. The author stresses the importance of family ties along with the quest for freedom. The narrative makes it clear that Black is more than a color and that it is not restricted to any shade. The evocative language and structure are similar to that of a praise song, an African poetic form. Ladd’s vibrant mixed-media collages pair perfectly with the spirited words and enhance and amplify their meaning. The bold colors and striking images support the uplifting text. Illustrations of the very recognizable inauguration of President Barack Obama and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial along with depictions of regular Black children and families reinforce the message that Black excellence is everywhere. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

An intriguing blend of spoken-word and picture-book artistry. (Picture book. 4-8)

Kirkus Reviews