BLACK BOY, RISE

A tribute to Black boyhood and Langston Hughes’ poetry.

As a child scales a jungle gym, an unseen narrator asks who told him he could leap, climb, or laugh. “Get out of those clouds. / Don’t set your sights so high.” Intertextual references to Hughes’ poems punctuate the verse, but the narrator tells the boy that Hughes’ exhortations weren’t meant for him. He should stick to dribbling, dunking, and tackling; he should stay quiet, “head down.” After telling the boy what he can’t or shouldn’t do and be—echoing mainstream American society’s treatment of Black boys—the narrative voice turns more uplifting, telling the boy that he’s a delight to his ancestors. Collier’s rich, moving collage illustrations emphasize the boy’s active nature while also depicting him as the culmination of generations of struggle. Four African women, each holding a pineapple (symbols of welcome), stand at the threshold of their respective homes, and the faces of Black adults—perhaps ancestors or guardians—appear on the trunk of the tree the boy climbs. Translucent blue marbles float on several double-page spreads, suggesting the power of the boy’s imagination. Collier’s luscious illustrations will appeal to readers, but the negative beginning may confuse them, while the frequent allusions to texts that most children will be unfamiliar with will limit their interest in this book.

The verse is too lofty for its young audience, though the visuals offer a uniquely gorgeous portrayal of Black boy joy.