THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM

A joyful ode to freedom from the perspective of a park in Houston, Texas.

Emancipation Park was built on land purchased in 1872, to commemorate the holiday that would become known as Juneteenth; in 1918, it was made into a municipal park. Here, residents of the city’s Third Ward could celebrate the freedom of their ancestors. As the book opens, we see people—predominantly Black and brown—enjoying a summer day. Readers are then transported to June 19, 1865, when the enslaved people of Galveston found out that, two years earlier, Abraham Lincoln had ended slavery by signing the Emancipation Proclamation. Later, the park in Houston was built to honor that triumphant day. From then on, it became a community gathering spot, where people played, held concerts, and hosted sporting events. When Jim Crow and segregation laws proliferated, the park also housed the only pool that allowed African Americans. Eventually, the park fell into disrepair until it was rededicated in 2017 and given new life. Most spreads open with a reason the park was built: “They built me to celebrate.” “They built me to play.” Ellis writes in spirited, succinct verse. Mohammed’s bold, active illustrations give rise to powerfully poignant words. Butterflies and plant life can be seen throughout; as the park goes through its life cycle, so, too, do those elements.

A beautifully layered story just as rich as the history it represents.