"In a poetic narrative of the origins of Black America, acclaimed Black author and publisher Wade Hudson teaches us about the little-known men and women who had a profound effect on the history of the nation. Black America was built by brave pioneers--men and women taken from Africa, who suffered and struggled to build a country, a culture, and institutions. Emphasizing that freedom didn't ring for all when the United States gained its independence from Great Britain, Hudson shows the slow process by which Black Americans fought for justice over the course of many generations."--Publisher's website. - (Baker & Taylor)

"Exploring the birth of Black America, an acclaimed Black author teaches readers about the little-known men and women who suffered and struggled to build a country, a culture and institutions, showing the slow process by which Black Americans fought for justice over the course of many generations. Simultaneous eBook. Illustrations." - (Baker & Taylor)

This lyrical picture book explores the birth of Black America, focusing on the little-known men and women who fought for justice and for an America where freedom truly rang for all.

We’re familiar with the founding fathers of white America, but who are the founding fathers (and mothers!) of Black America?

In a poetic narrative of the origins of Black America, acclaimed Black author and publisher Wade Hudson teaches us about the little-known men and women who had a profound effect on the history of the nation. Black America was built by brave pioneers—men and women taken from Africa, who suffered and struggled to build a country, a culture, and institutions. Emphasizing that freedom didn’t ring for all when the United States gained its independence from Great Britain, Hudson shows the slow process by which Black Americans fought for justice over the course of many generations.

Ending with a call to consciousness and to action, Invincible is a powerful, informative, and inspiring account of a history that deserves to be better known. - (Random House, Inc.)

Wade Hudson is the author of numerous books for children, including the memoir Defiant: Growing Up in the Jim Crow South, and is also the co-editor of the critically acclaimed collection Recognize!: An Anthology Honoring and Amplifying Black Life. He and his wife Cheryl are not only frequent co-authors, but also the co-founders and publishers of Just Us Books, a company dedicated to publishing books geared toward Black children.

The recipient of a Caldecott Honor and an Orbis Pictus Award, along with many others, E. B. Lewis is the illustrator of more than seventy books for children. His recent titles include Seeking Freedom by Selene Castrovilla and Lizzie Demands a Seat by Beth Anderson, which won Bank Street College of Education's Flora Stieglitz Straus Award for excellence in nonfiction, along with many other honors. - (Random House, Inc.)

Booklist Reviews

*Starred Review* Arriving at a time when Black history is being challenged around the country, Invincible is a powerful, gorgeous testimony of resistance. The language is unadorned, the tone insistent; Lewis' illustrations are infused with a power that is strikingly different from the tender watercolors of his earlier works. The book tells of Black resistance and organization and the creation of Black communities and institutions where people flourish in the face of merciless racism. Three pages list the dates, names, and contributions of Black Americans whose lives and work established some of the values all Americans cherish today: caring for the poor, advocating for women, organizing against racism, supporting theater, art, and music, and much more. Invincible demands we recognize that the history of the U.S. is both glorious and ugly. The clarity of the narrative, complemented by the artwork, makes this complicated and contradictory reality accessible to young readers and will spark many important conversations about who we are as a people, as well as who we should strive to be. Back matter includes the author's motivation for creating this book, plus supplemental historical context and the illustrator's explanation about symbolism, history, and art. A necessary addition to all classrooms and libraries. Grades 3-5. Copyright 2023 Booklist Reviews.