Ellington Was Not a Street

In a reflective tribute to the African-American community of old, noted poet Ntozake Shange recalls her childhood home and the close-knit group of innovators that often gathered there. These men of vision, brought to life in the majestic paintings of artist Kadir Nelson, lived at a time when the color of their skin dictated where they could live, what schools they could attend, and even where they could sit on a bus or in a movie theater.
Yet in the face of this tremendous adversity, these dedicated souls and others like them not only demonstrated the importance of Black culture in America, but also helped issue in a movement that changed the world. Their lives and their works inspire us to this day, and serve as a guide to how we approach the challenges of tomorrow.

Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 01/01/2004
ISBN: 9780689828843
Pages: 40
Weight: 1.13lbs
Size: 12.22h x 9.30w x 0.39d
Award: Parents Choice Award (Spring) (1998-2007) - Winner
Award: Coretta Scott King Award - Winner

Review Citations: Kirkus Review - Children 11/15/2003 pg. 1364
Black Issues Book Review 01/01/2004 pg. 66
Publishers Weekly 12/22/2003 pg. 59
School Library Journal 01/01/2004 pg. 122
Booklist 02/15/2004 pg. 1070
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 03/01/2004 pg. 295
Christian Home & School 05/01/2004 pg. 28
Booksense '76 Childrens Sum 04 06/01/2004 pg. 1
School Library Journal 10/01/2004 pg. 52
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2004 pg. 460 - Below Average, With Minor Flaw
Multicultural Review 12/01/2004 pg. 91
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2004 pg. 460 - Below Average, With Minor Flaw
ALA Notable Children's Books 02/15/2005 pg. 1020
School Library Journal 04/01/2005 pg. 56
Black Issues Book Review 07/01/2005 pg. 65