Tom Feelings’ The Middle Passage is incredible. Wrought with pain and searching for the answer to the ultimate question: why? It is no mystery that America was built on the backs of African-American slaves but, Feelings illustrates the mood and conditions of the journey
across the middle passage into the fields of slave owners.
Starting with the arrival of the white slave traders the book progresses through the journey to the landing in America. The book was illustrated in black and gray using pen, ink, and tempera on rice paper. The illustration carry the story of the painful journey. The book does not sugar-coat anything and is difficult to keep reading however, it is important to remeber this tragic time in America’s history.
This book is recommended for anyone learning about slavery, interested in history, or interested art. The Middle Passage is essential to visualizing the journey of slaves to America. This book would pair well with the film Amistad and A Day of Tears by Julius Lester.
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