1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Nelson, Kadir. 2008. WE ARE THE SHIP: THE STORY OF NEGRO LEAGUE BASEBALL. New York: Hyperion. ISBN 9780786808328
2. PLOT SUMMARY
When we head to the baseball park to watch a game, most of us are oblivious to the long battle that many Americans had to fight before being allowed to play. In this wonderful story, Nelson shares the insights of the development of Negro League baseball from its beginning in the 1920’s to its end in 1947. Knowing the impact of hearing stories told directly from the players themselves, Nelson uses an “Everyone” player as his narrator in the book. This allows the reader to feel as if they are hearing the stories told firsthand, as if the player were telling them himself. Beginning with a foreword from Hank Aaron, the reader will be amazed at the segregation and hardships these players faced.
Told through innings instead of chapters, page after page the talent and obstacles of players are revealed. Bud Fowler, the first Negro to play professional baseball, invented the first shin guards because he was tired of being hit in the legs while playing catcher. On February 20, 1920, Rube Foster created the Negro National League with its own teams and rules to follow. Players would travel in ragged buses, have trouble finding places to eat due to their color and even play injured just to get a chance to play the game. Willard Brown, Satchel Paige, Norman “Turkey” Stearnes, Josh Gibson and more; all of these men had talents that were not acknowledged as they would have been if they were white. In the ninth inning, Jackie Robinson finally gets the chance to cross over to the Major Leagues and the rest is history.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The book is organized just as a baseball game, in innings. Each inning takes the reader one step further in the development of the Negro League. To assure its accuracy, the author has included an author’s note, bibliography, filmography and endnotes to support his information. Even though there is not a table of contents, the index guides the reader to various people and features of the game. The illustrations are the strongest part of the book. Through his lifelike oil paintings, the reader can feel the heartache these great athletes faced on a day to day basis. The rich, authentic colors make you feel as if you are looking at the real thing, portraying the subject matter clearly and effectively. The “Everyone” narrator voice helps the reader feel like he is listening to a story, not just learning a list of facts. This book is a must read for every baseball fan.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW: “Social studies teachers and baseball fans of all ages will covet this delightful winner of the 2009 Coretta Scott King author award and illustrator Honor award.”
BOOKLIST REVIEW: “If the story is the pitch, though, it’s the artwork that blasts the book into the stands. Nelson often works from a straight-on vantage point, as if the players took time out of the action to peer at the viewer from history, eyes leveled and challenging, before turning back to the field of play. With enormous blue skies and jam-packed grandstands backing them, these players look like the giants they are. The stories and artwork are a tribute to the spirit of the Negro Leaguers, who were much more than also-rans and deserve a more prominent place on baseball’s history shelves.”
2009 Sibert Medal
5. CONNECTIONS
*Students choose one of the famous players mentioned in the book. Using various resources such as books and the internet, students research their player further. Then, the students will become their player and write an “autobiography” to present in a living museum.
*Students can complete a Venn diagram comparing and contrasting Negro League baseball to Major League baseball. Be sure to include information about player salary, treatment of players and skills.
*Visit http://www.wearetheship.com/ to learn more about the book, author and making of the book including photos and videos.
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