Remember the bridge: Poems of a people

Weatherford, Carole Boston.  2002.  Remember the bridge: Poems of a people.  New York: Philomel Books.  ISBN 0399237267

 

Plot:

The book is a historical timeline of the life of an African American.   It showcases many inhuman circumstances that have plagued the African American community.  The timeline is based on several centuries of historical injustices of African Americans.  Towards the latter part of the book, triumph and success can be seen.

Critical Analysis:                                                                                                                       

It is disheartening to see how people treat one another.  Each poem is eloquently  told through the eyes of the individual who experienced such cruelty.  The illustrations further place an emotional hold on the reader because they connect the words to the story.  Each image is careful chosen to show visual imagery to reinforce the message.  Certain poems have  line structures while others are formed into paragraphs, either way, there is some kind of rhythm to each one.  The significance of the book is a looking glass to understanding  African American ancestry.  The author captured the essence of African American history by giving those individuals a platform to tell their story through imagery.  Their stories are significant because they are an important group of individuals who paved the way to freedom.  

From  School Library Journal

"Nevertheless, this celebratory, visually striking book will be appreciated in most collections."

Lindsay, Nina, Trevelyn E. Jones, Luann Toth, Marlene Charnizon, Daryl Grabarek, and Jeanne Larkins. 2002. Review of Remember the Bridge: Poems of a people by Carole Boston Weatherford.   School Library Journal 48(1): 169.

From Book Links

"Weatherford uses a bridge metaphor to inspire readers to learn more about African Americans' long journey toward freedom."

Carger, Chris Liska, and Mayra Carillo-Daniel. 2006. Review of Remember the Bridge: Poems of a people by Carole Boston Weatherford.  Book Links 15(3): 49.

From Publishers Weekly

"The presentation is consistently handsome, with photos and engravings done up in sober sepia shades keyed to brown fabric borders, but the solemnity and weight it lends the proceedings are ultimately undermined by the less rigorously conceived text."

Roback, Dianne, Jennifer M. Brown, Jason Britton, and Jeff Zaleski. 2001. Review of Remember the Bridge  by Carole Boston Weatherford.  Publishers Weekly 248(52): 62.

Connections:

Other books published by Carole Boston Weatherford

Birmingham, 1963 ISBN 1590784405

The Beatitudes: from slavery to civil rights.  ISBN 9780802853523

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led her people to freedom ISBN 0786851759

Activities for children:

Children can be asked to create a family tree.

Children can use the library to trace ancestry.

Ask children to find their family story.

Personal Response:

I believe this book is tailored for a child in middle school.  It was a saddening experience reading the poems because cruelty still exist.  The significant impact on my life was that I became aware of the historical struggles of the African American community.  The individuals depicted in the story will live on because their account has made it possible for freedom.  I recommend the book for any individual to read because it shows true courage, strength and triumph.