LET US MARCH ON!

An NAACP leader found a unique way to confront racism in the early 20th century.

Writer and Civil Rights activist James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) was a man of multiple talents, not the least of which was his facility with language; his poem “Lift Every Voice and Sing” is often referred to as the Black national anthem. But he knew there were also times when silence could be more effective than raised voices. With racist violence on the rise, he conceived of an unusual protest: “No chanting, / no cheering, / no chuckling. / Just serious, / somber / silence.” In 1917 in New York City, 10,000 people, among them children, marched down Fifth Avenue, carrying signs with messages about justice and the contributions of Black heroes. As one of the march’s leaders, Johnson remained as quiet as the rest of the participants, who were kept in step by drumbeats. Twenty thousand spectators watched this display of bravery and determination. Written in terse, at times staccato verse, Williams and Long’s portrayal of an important protest will be understood by even the youngest readers. The idea that a man of words could harness silence to convey a powerful message comes through loudly. Expressive digital illustrations in a palette of browns, tans, yellows, and fiery oranges support the storytelling. An authors’ note provides valuable context for the events.

A moving depiction of a potent response to a dark period in U.S. history.