| Summary: | Potter, Joan and Constance Claytor. African Americans Who Were First. Cobblehill Books, 1997. ISBN 0-525-65246-9. $15.99. 111 pp. A 4-9 BI Reviewed by Janice G. Bunker This book contains a brief history of African American life in the United States from 1619 to the present, interspersed with one-page life sketches of African Americans who were forerunners in fields ranging from writing and inventing to rodeo-riding and exploring. Potter joins Claytor in explaining the complex and volatile history of African Americans in a simple yet elegant way that invites admiration and emulation. Organized in chronological order, the life sketches powerfully convey the character and courage of each African American selected. A headline at the top of each page describes the contribution made, such as “First person to reach the North Pole”(Matthew Henson). An interesting read for adults also, this book would be an ideal inclusion in a unit on famous Americans or useful for helping a child select someone interesting to learn more about or report on. 116 p. : ill. 24 cm Children's Book and Play Review, May / June 1998
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