Maxine Beneba Clarke

The author, an award-wining Australian writer and poet, addresses this paean to Black lives to “Little one.” It begins:

“Little one,
when we say
Black Lives Matter,
we’re saying Black people
are wonderful-strong.
that we deserve to be
treated with basic RESPECT,
and that history’s done us wrong.”

Clarke writes “enough is enough is enough” and that “we need to put things right.”

She adds:

“When we sob that Black Lives Matter,
We’re saying trouble still STALKS,
to this day,
that show more we’ve seen it
monster in the shadows
and must all help drive it away.”

She references joy and music and love too, but doesn’t shy away from the less pleasant aspects of Black reality that makes such a book necessary.

Clarke, who is also the illustrator, depicts her poems with words that float and sing and roar across full-bleed pages. The gorgeous textured art uses bright bold colors and abstract yet identifiable images to accentuate the meaning of the words.

Evaluation: This outstanding book for ages 6 and up is appropriately oversized, delivering as it does an oversized message that will uplift as well as teach. show less

In a powerful, poetic missive, award-winning author-illustrator Maxine Beneba Clarke celebrates the meaning behind the words Black Lives Matter.

Little one, when we say Black Lives Matter,
we're saying Black people are wonderful-strong.
That we deserve to be treated with basic respect,
and that history's done us wrong. . . .

Darling, when we sing that Black Lives Matter,
and we're dancing through the streets,
we're saying: fear will not destroy our joy,
defiance in our feet.

In this joyful show more exploration of the Black Lives Matter motto, a loving narrator relays to a young Black child the strength and resonance behind the words. In family life, through school and beyond, the refrains echo and gain in power, among vignettes of protests and scenes of ancestors creating music on djembe drums. With deeply saturated illustrations rendered in jewel tones, Maxine Beneba Clarke offers a gorgeous, moving, and essential picture book. show less

A powerful poem illustrated with vibrant colors, celebrating Black lives in both struggle and joy. The rhyming text progresses through different verbs of expression - when we say Black Lives Matter, when we sing Black Lives Matter, when we whisper Black Lives Matter, when we sob, when we smile, when we laugh. The book doesn't shy away from the harsh reality of being Black in America, but neither does it neglect the importance of Black joy and resilience.

The illustrations are evocative show more without being graphic - a faceless line of police in riot gear, an abstract body outline suggesting a crime scene - and provide great opportunities for discussion with children of all ages and levels of understanding. Although the text is written from the perspective of a Black parent talking to their child, this book is a valuable read for families of all backgrounds. It serves as an explanation of the BLM movement (in the most beautiful, not-didactic way imaginable) as well as a vital message of empowerment for Black children and those who love them.

I recommend buying this book from your nearest Black-owned bookstore (https://lithub.com/you-can-order-today-from-these-black-owned-independent-bookstores/) and sharing it with the young people in your life. Be prepared for thoughtful, important conversations to follow. show less

In 2013, the phrase "Black Lives Matter" launched a movement calling attention to police brutality and racially-motivated violence against Black people. While it was and is much needed given the treatment of the Black community, it also became a phrase weaponized by certain political parties, who used it as a means of mobilizing their constituencies by peddling the idea that the phrase means that only Black lives matter.

Author and illustrator Maxine Beneba Clarke has sought to take back and show more clarify the phrase in the wake of the confusion and outright vitriol it has faced. Her picture book "When We Say Black Lives Matter" offers a poetic and uplifting explanation of what the phrase means to so many people. Addressed to a child, the book not only tells of how the phrase is a call for Black people to be treated with respect and receive basic human dignity but also how the phrase can be filled with joy and hope. Illustrations accompany and complement the text, and together they make for a powerful message. With references to Black history and culture as well as present-day challenges, "When We Say Black Lives Matter" is a vital and important call to action as well as a clarification of everything this phrase encompasses. show less