A Review of We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball

By Kadir Nelson

* Note: This blog fulfills a course requirement at TWU.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Nelson, Kadir. We are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball. Forward by Hank Aaron. New York: Jump at the Sun - Disney Publishing/Hyperion Books for Children. 2008. ISBN:  0786808322

PLOT SUMMARY

This is a beautifully-written book about the triumphs, tragedies, hardships, segregation, and low pay that these marvelously gifted African-American athletes went through and overcame to play the sport they loved – baseball. These leagues mirror a dark time in American history and the social and political struggles that black Americans endured. The book is divided into nine innings, or the length of a baseball game and walks the reader through the history of the league during a time when black baseball players were not allowed to play in the major leagues. The title of the book was gleaned from a statement by the founder of the Negro National League, Rube Foster who said, “We are the ship; all else the sea.” The book covers the early years of the league through Jackie Robinson’s breaking the color barrier in the major leagues in 1947 with the Brooklyn Dodgers. The narration is told through the eyes of someone who seemingly lived through that era passing on these wonderful stories to his children and grandchildren. Nelson’s poignant oil paintings bring these colorful characters to life and the tales of greats, such as Josh Gibson and Satchel Paige show the camaraderie that the players developed showcasing their talent in the league. Even though their story is sullied by bigotry and racism, the true heart of the story is the joy the men felt playing a game they loved.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The book is rated for children grade 3 and up. This is a history book of sports that everyone can easily embrace. The artwork is outstanding and helps to paint a vivid picture of the league and its’ players. The story depicts a harsh time in American history and parents should discuss these issues with their children prior to reading the book. This book could be used in a classroom as a history lesson on the harsh realities of racism and bigotry in this country and the great athletes that fought so hard to overcome those barriers. This is a story that needs to be told so that the names of these players and the path they traveled will not be easily forgotten. These stories serve as a tribute to the great players who played the game and the spirit they possessed. Highly recommended.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

2009 Sibert Medal

2009 Coretta Scott King Award for Authors

School Library Journal - “A lost piece of American history comes to life in Kadir Nelson's elegant and eloquent history of the Negro Leagues and its gifted baseball players. The history of the Leagues echoes the social and political struggles of black America during the first half of the 20th century.”

Booklist – “Award-winning illustrator and first-time author Nelson’s history of the Negro Leagues, told from the vantage point of an unnamed narrator, reads like an old-timer regaling his grandchildren with tales of baseball greats Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and others who forged the path toward breaking the race barrier before Jackie Robinson made his historic debut.” 

CONNECTIONS

Read other similar history books of the racial struggles in America:

• ·         Weatherford, Carole Boston. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom (Caldecott Honor Book) 2006. ISBN: 0786851759

• ·         Wiles, Deborah. Freedom Summer. Illustrated by Jerome Lagarrigue. 2005. ISBN: 068987829X

As well as other Kadir Nelson books:

• ·         Nelson, Kadir. Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans. 2013. ISBN: 0061730793

• ·         Nelson, Kadir. Nelson Mandela. 2013. ISBN:  0061783749