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review 2015-09-14 12:13
a taste of strange fruit
Strange Fruit, Volume I: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History - Joel Christian Gill

"Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees... a strange and bitter crop" - Strange Fruit, Billie Holiday

Strange Fruit, Volume I is an anthology showcasing nine African Americans whose names and stories are little-known  in the annals of American history.

for the first time, author/illustrator Joel Christian Gill shares their neglected biographies through vibrant, colorful and humorous artwork and commentaries. his drawings are pleasing to the eyes with his liberal use of cool hues that are complemented by splashes of warm and earthy tones.

more than the historical and cultural components, the stories reflect the triumph of man's indomitable spirit against the many faces of adversity. there is Henry "Box" Brown who mailed himself to Philadelphia to escape from slavery; Marshall "Major" Taylor, also known as the Black Cyclone, who was the first black champion in any sport; Bass Reeves who, with the help of his Native American friends, captured a considerable number of outlaws and was hailed to be the most successful lawman in the Old West. these are but three of the nine African Americans one gets to read about in this volume.

this collection is readable, engaging and informative. it will surely appeal to readers both young and old.  

i will be on the lookout for more strange fruit in the future to sink my teeth into and i hope you enjoy these uplifting stories as much as i did.


*received a copy for review from Edelweiss

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text 2015-07-25 01:18
bits of Strange Fruit

 

Strange Fruit, Volume I: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History
by Joel Christian Gill
Source: edelweiss.abovethetreeline.com
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text 2015-07-24 07:39
Strange Fruit
Strange Fruit, Volume I: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History - Joel Christian Gill

during the mid 90s, i was involved in setting up the Civil Rights Movement booth for a Black History Month exhibit. it was hard work but it got everyone's creative juices flowing especially since we had so little budget and very few resources at hand. my colleagues and i worked hard beating the deadline but we all had a grand time working together. the exhibit opened on time and it ran for a week. it was a HUGE success!

 

looking back, i consider that exhibit as one of my best accomplishments.  it also remains to be one of the most memorable experiences of my life.

 

with those memories in mind, i look forward to reading this graphic novel and learning more about a part of African-American history that not many people know about.

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review 2014-12-30 00:00
Strange Fruit, Volume I: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History
Strange Fruit, Volume I: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History - Joel Christian Gill I could see Gill getting more comfortable with the comics medium as the volume progressed - the earlier comics use some of the same visual formulas (they work!) and then the whole thing becomes freer and more self assured. the small stories work here and he does a good job condensing people's lives w/o losing focus. there's a nice little bibliography at the end, too.
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review 2014-12-30 00:00
Strange Fruit, Volume I: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History
Strange Fruit, Volume I: Uncelebrated Narratives from Black History - Joel Christian Gill I could see Gill getting more comfortable with the comics medium as the volume progressed - the earlier comics use some of the same visual formulas (they work!) and then the whole thing becomes freer and more self assured. the small stories work here and he does a good job condensing people's lives w/o losing focus. there's a nice little bibliography at the end, too.
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