The Old African

This is a heart-wrenching depiction of slavery from Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney, who also gave us the awesome revisionist "Sam and the Tigers." It is reminiscent of African and Caribbean folk tales that show how when Africans were forcibly brought to the Americas their magic, their monsters and their gods came too. It also shares the constant theme of the enslaved folks' stories: although they are enslaved, that doesn't mean they don't possess power. The illustrations are majestic multi-page spreads of Pinkney's incredible painting that depict scenes of power, cruelty, and emotion.

Lester's afterword explains that the book grew out of a legend he read about -- of slaves who walked into the ocean and back to Africa. The story starts off in the antebellum South with a slave boy being whipped and the old African using his powers to take away the boys' pain -- and later causing lightening to strike the house of the evil master so the slaves can escape. The old African is one of the few who remember how they came over from Africa -- how they were stolen from their homes by other Africans and put aboard a ship. Interesting example of describing experience from Africans' point of view (e.g., what they might have thought of the ships and the ocean). Horrific details of the slaves' crossing. Beautiful paintings by Jerry show more Pinkney. Definitely a picture book for older kids (grade 6 or 7). Magic realism of the walking underwater back to Africa. Very powerful. show less

Breathtaking!

Debora Brown
EDE 3343
February 4, 2012
Picture Book-The Old African
Title: The Old African
Author: Julius Lester
The slaves are at the mercy of their cruel master. Master Riley tries to prove a point by whipping a runaway slave. Then he makes some of the slaves look at this young man being whipped, but the slaves do not let Master Riley control their minds. The slaves find a way to escape and that is through their mind. The Old African uses his magical powers by helping the slaves. The Old African can read the minds of the slaves. The Old African has magical power to help his people. The slaves are brought over to a new land, but some of them die by jumping overboard. The cruel plantation owner, Master Riley, does not have any compassion show more on the slaves. At the beginning of the story, a slave boy, Paul, is tied to an oak tree, while he is being beaten. The Old African helps the people to endure during their suffering by controlling their minds. The runaway slave sees the ocean, but the Old African sees this as a way to freedom. Obasi had taught the Old African not to abuse his power. When Master Riley pulled his pistol on them because they were picking up the whipped boy, the Old African looked at Master Riley just above the eyes, and he heard the tree talk. The oak tree told Master Riley to put the gun down. As Master Riley raised his gun to shoot the Old African his arm became as heavy as a rock, and he could not move his body. Master Riley was very terrified because trees could not talk. He tried to sell the Old African man many times, but he could not sell him. The Old African turned into a hawk, then, he flew away. He made the clouds roll in from the ocean. A bolt of lightning hit Master Riley’s house and the house erupted in flames. The slaves made their way to the ocean, and the Old African and May went into the water. The slaves thought they had drowned, but when they looked May and the Old African was back. Then, the slaves walked on the bottom of the ocean and two sharks help led them to Africa. There were rows and rows of skeletons on the ocean’s floor. Then, the skeletons were walking behind the slaves. However, as they approached land, the skeleton’s bodies were returned to them. The bottom of the ocean welcomed them back home. The Old African could speak again and he did. He called his wife’s name, and they were happy again. show less

Signed edition

NA