Remember the Bridge: Poems of a People

 

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Weatherford, Carole Boston. 2001.REMEMBER THE BRIDGE: POEMS OF PEOPLE. NewYork: Penguin. ISBN 0-399-23726-7

 PLOT SUMMARY
In this topical anthology, multiple poems follow the journey of African Americans from enslavement to Civil Rights.  There are poems that detail events and some that focus on a specific person.   Each poem is also coupled with a photograph, fitting for the poem on the opposite page.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

The poems are coupled with black and white photographs that correspond to the time period or person described in the poem. This creates a perfect balance between the visuals and the verse. Each poem is very different, so that there is no unifying style in the writing.  The photographs are very powerful, some even haunting.

The history detailed in the poems is, by far, the most enjoyable part. A history buff would enjoy connecting the verse to the real-life event.  In the poem “The All-Time, All-Sport, All-Star Team,”the reader follows a trail of sports stars and begin to understand how each on  influenced a later athlete. “We’d better get a pitcher; so round up Satchel Paige/ Then, he’ll call Jackie Robinson from the batting cage/ May all-stars light new stars and never bid farewell.”Because of the nature of the poems and advanced style, this book could easily be used in a classroom for middle schoolers through college. Weatherford has created a very powerful book which is sure to stay with its reader.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL review: “Weatherford searched for two decades for photos to illustrate her poems celebrating African-American heritage, she also began to write poems to accompany some of the powerful images she encountered. Thus text and art flow through this volume, each having its voice.”
BOOKLIST review:  “The stories of basket weavers, family farmers, cowboys, Civil War soldiers, quilt makers, and cooks are celebrated along with those of more famous figures in African American history in this powerful collection of poems that implores readers to learn and remember the past.”

CONNECTIONS

Children can try their hand at connecting a poem to a picture and vice versa.

Readers who enjoyed the historical element of this book can find other historical poems here:

Meltzer, Milton. HOUR OF FREEDOM: AMERICAN HISTORY IN POETRY. ISBN 1590780213
Hopkins, Lee Bennett. HAND IN HAND: AAN AMERICAN HISTORY THROUGH POETRY. ISBN 067173315X