BIBLIOGRAPHY
Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2002. REMEMBER THE BRIDGE: POEMS OF A PEOPLE. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN: 0399237267
Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2002. REMEMBER THE BRIDGE: POEMS OF A PEOPLE. New York: Philomel Books. ISBN: 0399237267
PLOT SUMMARY
Carol Weatherford takes us on an African-American journey: from the motherland of Africa, across the ocean, to the United States of America; from freedom to slavery to freedom again. These poems celebrate the lives of both the known and the unknown, the individual and the group, the failures and the successes of African-Americans. Each individual, whether alone or as part of a group, has helped to shape the history and the future of their people.
Carol Weatherford takes us on an African-American journey: from the motherland of Africa, across the ocean, to the United States of America; from freedom to slavery to freedom again. These poems celebrate the lives of both the known and the unknown, the individual and the group, the failures and the successes of African-Americans. Each individual, whether alone or as part of a group, has helped to shape the history and the future of their people.
CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Weatherford’s poetic talent covers a wide range from free verse through several rhyming schemes. The majority are quatrains/ballad stanzas (ABCB) closely followed by rhymed couplets (AABB).1 However, there is one poem – Brand-New Roller Skate Blues - whose pattern is more creative; she repeats and then rhymes several of her last words (ABABCB: know, fine, know, fine, stardom, nine).
Weatherford’s poetic talent covers a wide range from free verse through several rhyming schemes. The majority are quatrains/ballad stanzas (ABCB) closely followed by rhymed couplets (AABB).1 However, there is one poem – Brand-New Roller Skate Blues - whose pattern is more creative; she repeats and then rhymes several of her last words (ABABCB: know, fine, know, fine, stardom, nine).
The flow of the storyline is topical (slavery, music, sports, individuals, explorers) and very loosely chronological, beginning with slavery and ending her hopes for the future. However, I had to research most of the individuals to understand the time-frame and some of the topics (sports, explorers) were not chronological.
Weatherford’s illustrations of primarily antique engravings and old photos are moving; however, some of the individual photos are simply prosaic. The mainly black/white or sepia tones and the African brown borders compliment the flavor of the text, reminding us that ‘color’ has paid a high price in this world.
AWARDSNorth Carolina Juvenile Literature AwardTeachers' Choices, International Reading Association
Notable Book, National Council for the Social Studies
Notable Book of the English Language Arts
Bank Street College Best Children's Books of 2003
Center for Children's Books Best Books of 2002
Poetry Pick, Voices of Youth Advocates
Notable Book, National Council for the Social Studies
Notable Book of the English Language Arts
Bank Street College Best Children's Books of 2003
Center for Children's Books Best Books of 2002
Poetry Pick, Voices of Youth Advocates
REVIEW EXCERPTS
BOOK REPORT: “Illustrations show the struggles and pride of a people, and heartfelt poems tell their story.”
BOOK REPORT: “Illustrations show the struggles and pride of a people, and heartfelt poems tell their story.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Almost all of these poems are rhymed, with many fairly shouting to be read out loud with a strong beat…some of the poems will work for younger children….other selections will find a place in middle school and high school classrooms”
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY: “profiles individuals, both imagined and historical…subjects are sometimes anonymous, sometimes prominent….her poetry at times becomes pedestrian and clichéd…order of the material is confusing…visual momentum eventually dissipates”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: “text and art flow through this volume…poems are written in free verse or rhyme and meter (and not always smoothly executed), and aren’t always as inspiring as the illustrations…some of them [illustrations] need more explanation”
BOOKLINKS: “uses a bridge metaphor to inspire readers to learn more about African American’s long journey toward freedom”
CONNECTIONSOther books to read
· Brimmer, Larry Dane. BIRMINGHAM SUNDAY. ISBN: 978-1590786130
· Weatherford, Carole Boston. THE SOUND THAT JAZZ MAKES. ISBN: 978-0761457329
· Weatherford, Carole Boston. SINK OR SWIM: AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFESAVERS OF THE OUTER BANKS (CAROLINA YOUNG PEOPLE). ISBN: 978-1928556039
Lessons (found at http://www.astropix.com/HTML/C_SPRING/URSAS.HTM)·
The poem, "The Conductor Was a Woman," follows Harriett Tubman on the Underground Railroad. Since slaves didn't have compasses, they used the North Star, also known as Polaris, to guide them to freedom. The two outer stars that form the bowl of the Big Dipper point to the North Star at the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper. The North Star is always in the North.
The poem, "The Conductor Was a Woman," follows Harriett Tubman on the Underground Railroad. Since slaves didn't have compasses, they used the North Star, also known as Polaris, to guide them to freedom. The two outer stars that form the bowl of the Big Dipper point to the North Star at the tip of the handle of the Little Dipper. The North Star is always in the North.
The folk song "Follow the Drinking Gourd" (another name for the Big Dipper) was a coded song that gave directions on the escape route from Alabama and Mississippi. Read it to the class (http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/ltc/special/mlk/gourd2.html).
Then go back to http://www.astropix.com/HTML/C_SPRING/URSAS.HTM, hover over the night skymap to show the dippers and Polaris. Have students plot the Big Dipper, Little Dipper and the North Star on black or blue construction paper with chalk or adhesive stars.
· The poem, "Slaves' Chores," depicts a hard day's work on the plantation. Ask students to list chores they do around the house and the steps involved in each task. Using these notes, the students will write a poem about housework. The poem may focus on one chore or several.
1 Loske, Boris. "Poetry.....Rhyme." Boris Loske . www.loske.org/html/school/english/rhyme.pdf (accessed June 25, 2011).
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