On the Backs of the Enslaved

by CherylAnne Amendola, Allison O'Donnell (Illustrations)

"Thomas Jefferson was one of the most accomplished men in American history. Along with representing our country in France, he was Secretary of State and even became the third president of the United States. But like all great people, Thomas did many things that weren’t so great at all."Thomas Jefferson enslaved over 600 African-American people during his lifetime. Those he enslaved were chefs and skilled workers who, with stolen labor, made it so that Jefferson's life ran smoothly. Behind his many accomplishments were enslaved people whose time and talents allowed Jefferson to accomplish great things. Targeted for readers ages 5 and older, On the Backs of the Enslaved is aimed at teaching kids about the privilege of founding father Jefferson and honoring those he enslaved.

34 pages, Paperback

Published October 31, 2019

Reviews

[Lynn]

Simple and beautiful!

Designed to be accessible to young children, both the text and illustrations in this book are beautifully simple and powerful. Amendola gives names and credit to the enslaved people who made Jefferson’s accomplishments possible. The book is straightforward in its assertion that Jefferson’s slave ownership made him far from perfect without demonizing this great figure in American history. Bold illustrations support its powerful message that we must continue to pursue equality for all.

[Nicole]

This picture book does an excellent job explaining how enslaving others benefited their enslavers. Through powerful illustrations and easy to understand text, children of all ages will make connections and understand the impact of slavery on our nation. By using a well known Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson, this book is accessible to learners of all ages.