Books in African American Answer Book series

"I sat up most of the night reading and pondering the enormous significance of Harriet Wilson's Our Nig." — Author Alice WalkerThis seminal autobiographical novel, originally published in 1859, is believed to have been the first by an African-American woman. Harriet Wilson's compelling story describes the life of a mulatto girl who, after the death of her mother, is exploited first by a terrifying Northern family for whom she worked and then by an opportunistic husband.A classic of African-American literature, Our Nig has made an enduring contribution to understanding the lives of free blacks in the nineteenth century. A fascinating combination of slave narrative and sentimental novel, the story traces the hardships and suffering of Frado, who grows up as an indentured servant to a white family in Massachusetts and spends much of her destitute life wandering through New England.A clear and accurate account of race relations and perceptions of race in the antebellum North, Our Nig is essential reading for students of African-American history and culture.

The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass was Douglass' third autobiography. In it he was able to go into greater detail about his life as a slave and his escape from slavery, as he and his family were no longer in any danger from the reception of his work. It is also the only of Douglass' autobiographies to discuss his life during and after the Civil War, including his encounters with American Presidents such as Lincoln, Grant, and Garfield

GREAT GIFT FOR GIRLS! Katherine Johnson has been called "the girl who loved to count". She said, “I counted everything… anything that could be counted, I did.” She has become famous as one of the subjects of a bestselling book by Margot Lee Shetterly, called Hidden Figures. The book told about black women math experts who helped put men on the moon. It was made into a movie, also called Hidden Figures, with Taraji P. Henson playing Johnson. Before she became famous, she had to get an education and to work hard. She learned to make the most of the opportunities that came her way. Johnson, and most African-Americans, had to deal with prejudice in every part of their life. Women continue to be treated by different standards than men, even today, but in the 1960’s it was a thousand times harder for women and a million times harder for African –American Women to become successful or accomplished in any field. This story describes some of the difficulties and the many accomplishments Katherine Johnson experienced in her life.

I hope You enjoy coloring and learning about the animals found in Africa. If your parents take you to Africa on a safari you will see some of the same types of animals found in the zoo. If you Learn a little about the animals before you travel, it will increase your wildlife viewing experience greatly. Most people on a safari in Africa hope to see the “BIG 5” which refers to five of Africa’s greatest wild animals, Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Buffalo and Rhino. I hope you like coloring them as well.