A distinctive narrative begins with a young girl observing that there is no color black in the rainbow. She then notes things around her that are black-a crayon, her friend's braid, the tires on a bicycle. As "black" subtly shifts to "Black," the observations turn into marvelous references to African American culture. "Black is the robe on Thurgood's back. Black are the trains on the railroad tracks. Black are the eyes on the salted peas. Black are the shadows of ooo-old magnolia trees." An author's note places each allusion in historical and cultural context while a timeline also at volume's also documents the use of terms such as "Negro," "colored," "Afro-American," and even Malcolm X's "so-called Negro," concluding with "Black is back" and a note under "2020" stressing the importance of capitalizing Black "in the spirit of the W.E.B. DuBois campaign." Ekua Holmes' stunning illustrations visually extend this immersive, celebratory look at African American identity. For example, "Black is side-walking in spit-shined shoes" shows a sidewalk composed of historical newspaper headlines and stories, and her paintings echo stained-glass church windows throughout. As richly symbolic as they are, neither art nor text loses sight of the original child, whose final observation, "Black is a rainbow, too," is set against art showing Black people with a range of variations in their hair and skin. (Ages 4-9)

A child reflects on the meaning of being Black in this moving and powerful anthem about a people, a culture, a history, and a legacy that lives on.

Red is a rainbow color.
Green sits next to blue.
Yellow, orange, violet, indigo,
They are rainbow colors, too, but

My color is black . . .
And there’s no BLACK in rainbows.

From the wheels of a bicycle to the robe on Thurgood Marshall's back, Black surrounds our lives. It is a color to simply describe some of our favorite things, but it also evokes a deeper sentiment about the incredible people who helped change the world and a community that continues to grow and thrive.

Stunningly illustrated by Caldecott Honoree and Coretta Scott King Award winner Ekua Holmes, Black Is a Rainbow Color is a sweeping celebration told through debut author Angela Joy’s rhythmically captivating and unforgettable words.

An ALSC Notable Children's Book 2021
An NCTE 2021 Notable Poetry Book
A 2021 Notable Social Studies Trade Book of the NCSS/CBC
A New York Public Library Best Book of 2020
A Washington Post Best Book of 2020
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book of the Year
A 2020 Jane Addams Children's Book Award Honoree