Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen―Celebrating 145 Black Heroes Across History With Stunning Portraits and Insightful Biographical Reflections

by George McCalman

From an award-winning graphic designer and artist comes this distinctive collection that celebrates Black Americans and their contributions—many little known—to politics, science, literature, music, and other fields, brought to life by soulful portraits.

Illustrated Black History is an exuberant and essential chronicle that spans many decades and fields, from activism, business, and medicine to technology, food, and entertainment. Honoring the legacy of more than 150 extraordinary Black men and women--many of whom are “hidden figures” whose invaluable contributions to American culture often went ignored or undervalued. Each entry includes an insightful essay highlighting their impact alongside evocative original portraits painted and rendered by George McCalman..


In addition to towering figures, including Nina Simone, Frederick Douglass, Ben Carson, Colin Kaepernick, James Baldwin, Octavia Butler, bell hooks, and Audre Lorde, Illustrated Black History honors heroes such as:


Documentarian Madeline Anderson, who produced I Am Somebody, a film about the 1969 strike of mostly women hospital workers
James and Eloyce Gist, whose traveling ministry crisscrossed America in the early 1900s 
Renaissance man, Paul Robeson
Dr. Eliza Ann Grier, who was born into slavery and became the first black woman to practice medicine in America
Guion S. Bluford, the first black person to travel into space
Claudette Colvin, the civil rights activist who refused to give up her seat on a bus nine months before Rosa Parks
And many more
The depth and breadth of Black genius has always been integral, but has so often been excised from the official American narrative. With recent successes like Hidden Figures and the New York Times Magazine’s Pulitzer Prize-winning 1619 Project, this reading of history is beginning to receive its placement. Accessible and eye-opening, this artful treatment is a long-overdue homage to the contributions of African Americans and a powerful celebration of the Black experience that is sure to become a keepsake for generations.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, African American, Race, Art, Social Justice, Graphic Novels

384 pages, Hardcover

First published September 27, 2022

Reviews

[Keegan Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminds me a little bit of Alice Walker's *Taking the Arrow Out of the Heart* in the way it sparks my curiosity about so many people and their work. It is focused on Black people who especially had to survive -- and in all the cases of these individuals thrive in some way -- in white spaces. McCalum writes of Raven Wilkinson, "Later on in the same trip, she observed in a hotel dining room dozens of white parties eating at their respective tables. They appeared to her as normal, average people. Then, as she went to sit down, she noticed a pile of white sheets and hoods folded on a chair in the corner." (p 337) This is the backdrop of these individuals' lives. But the foreground is rich and brilliant and clever and beautiful and all the things.

In the beginning, I began a list of things I was learning, but it's not very long because I stopped pretty early on.
-Kareem Abdul-Jabbar converted to Islam and wasn't born in the faith
-James Baldwin was openly gay
-there is a group that helps support at-risk kids with a ranch that celebrates the Black cowboys of the old West

Here's some new (s)heroes & heroes I want to learn more about:
- Audre Lorde [poet ex. "Smelling the Wind"]
- bell hooks [writer]
-Shirley Chisolm [politician]
-Mary Francis Hill Coley [midwife]
- Edmonia Lewis (sculptor)
- Vivien Thomas (surgeon - male)
- Paul Revere Williams (architect - male)

Here's some new works I want to explore:
- the film *Losing Ground* by Kathleen Collins
- the music of Celia Cruz
- the film *Daughters of the Dust*
- the poetry of Paul Laurence Dunbar
- the dancing style of Katherine Dunham
- movies and music by Francine Everett
- comedy of Dick Gregory
- the dance of Bill T. Jones
- the writings of Alain Leroy Locke
- the contemporary criticism of Patrice Peck (check social media)
- the films of Oscar Micheaux
- the poetry of Phillis Wheatley {the book *Poems on Various Subjects*}
- Sula, Song of Solomon, & Beloved by Toni Morrison
- writings of Walter Mosley (ex. Devil in a Blue Dress)
- *Getting Mother's Body* by Suzan-Lori Parks
- the comedy of Richard Pryor
- the music of Minnie Riperton (albums Come to My Garden and/or Adventures in Paradise)
- the music of Patrice Rushen
- the music of Gil Scott-Heron (esp. "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised")
- the music of Nina Simone (including "Take Care of Business, "I want a Little Sugar in My Bowl," Mississippi Goddam," & "Four Women")
- *Vibration Cooking: Or, The Travel Notes of a Geechee Girl* by Vertamae Smart-Grosvenor
- a documentary *The Gospel According to Andre*
-band Earth, Wind, & Fire
- When they See Us (film) & other films by Bradford Young

Quotes I loved:
- "My belief is that the manufacturers continue to give us a Black version of a white product. Just as we're not Black versions of white people, Black dolls should not be versions of white ones." -Yla Eason
- "Art does for me what religion does--it organizes a seemingly chaotic world." - Bill T. Jones
- "The answer to injustice is not to silence the critic but to end the injustice." - Paul Robeson
- "When Dr. King said that the 'arc of the moral universe bends toward justice,' he wasn't saying it bends on its own accord. It bends because we choose to put our shoulders into it together and push." - Robert F. Smith

While Alice Walker's poetry was linguistically beautiful, George McCalman's book is visually engaging, as well as being rich with wisdom. This would be the perfect table top book! Quick little biographies to read with engaging images and short essays throughout.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must read. First, of all I learned so much about people I have ever even heard of. Second, the illustrations in this book are so different and varied. This book was really well done.

[Isabella Tiberi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge record of the often overlooked or underappreciated Black figures in history and culture. While icons like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Frederick Douglass, and others are household names (and with good reason), this book is one that brings to light the stories and contributions of so many people across different industries and areas: dance, music, art, literature, filmmaking, politics, education, cosmetology, fashion, cuisine, history, sociology...You might find yourself wondering with every page how you've never learned about these people until now when they've left such an impressive mark on the world!
The artwork is also a wonderful edition, with McCalman showcasing a wide variety of styles in a show of admiration and respect for his subjects. The short essay entries by other Black writers interspersed throughout the book provide another perspective besides McCalman himself, which imo adds to its core message: the various notable Black people in this book inspire and leave behind a cultural legacy that is felt by their community, even after they're gone and even if they aren't acknowledged widely as much as they should be.

[Shoshana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for everyone! Beautifully illustrated, showcasing, unrepresented, icons of history.

[Jameson Fink · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen is the instructive subtitle of George McCalman's Illustrated Black History. Much of his book shines a spotlight on Black people who haven't been given the historical due their work, their life, and their existence has warranted. To pick just one example, I was grateful to learn about Augusta Braxton Baker's career at the New York Public Library, sourcing books that spoke to, and reflected, the lives of Black children.

The profiles of the iconic, like James Baldwin, reveal levels of nuance and complexity. One of the things that makes profiles like Baldwin's so compelling is when McCalman speaks personally. For him, not only was Baldwin a superhero "leaping over towering lies in a single bound," but also an empowering figure. "For Black gay men like me, he showed us how to stitch our own capes."

Portraits of each honored person reflect McCalman's goal to make art in order to "understand human identity." Varied in style and technique, they make the accompanying prose that much more compelling and complementary.

[Mary Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I marked this as "Read" though I didn't read the whole book. I got it from the library and I have to return it! And I think this is a book I will have to buy, it's just so wonderful. A friend of mine told me about George McCalman so I started following the artist on Instagram. I love his art, I love his design and I love this book. He's included some of my personal favorites here - Walter Mosley, Thornton Dial - and others I know about but learned more about from the stories in the book. And then there are the ones I didn't know. This book is a treasure - I'm an artist and his work is inspiring in so many ways.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illustrated Black History is a collection of brief biographies of important Black figures throughout history, including athletes, artists, politicians, chefs, dancers, and many others. Each biography is accompanied by a gorgeous, bold illustration of the subject, which makes this book a joy to read. 

[Book Buying With Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would make a really dope gift. Happened to see it on the new arrivals shelf at the IndyPL. I loved how this book honored the well-knowns (Ida B. Wells, Maya Angelou, Malcolm X, etc) but also spent a lot of time on people who don't get mentioned in childhood black history programs and living artists/chefs/architects/filmmakers. Really cool.

[Baby Muffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, is about all I can say. The amount of information and new people that I learned about in this book is very vast. It’s definitely one that I will be buying for my personal collection.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazingly, I had this on my To Read list, TWICE - two different editions of the same Outstanding piece of literature, and I do mean OUTSTANDING!

As I started to read and examine this book, I thought I was looking at something produced by DK, but no, this book was published by HarperOne, an imprint of HarperCollins, and this is a beautiful, easy-to-read, easy-to-understand book.

This is not a book that is about events, but rather the PEOPLE who have made a difference throughout the years. I wasn't sure that I wanted to read this book, but Author, George McCalman enticed me by highlighting thumbnail sketches of each person showcased in this book, in his Table of Contents. I am a visual learner and the way McCalman presented these people made me want to learn more!

The people, from all walks of life, are presented alphabetically. For each person, we are given the name of the person, their birth and death dates (if applicable), a quote by the person, a brief essay about the person / people, and a colorful illustration.

Having said this, here you will not find people such as Reverend Jesse Jackson, Martin Luther King, Jr, Barack Obama, Rosa Parks, or even Oprah Winfrey. Rather, McCalman has chosen to honor people who we may have heard of, but don't know much about, OR people we think we know well, but really only know a small piece, as is the case with the first person presented, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Other people that I found interesting: Jourdon Anderson (After his former master wrote a letter asking Anderson to return to the Tennessee farm where he had once been enslaved, I was impressed (and somewhat scared) by the brave words Anderson used to respond to this man), Amy Ashwood Garvey, Edward Bannister, Jean-Michel Basquat (an artist who never listened to the critics), the 1936 Berlin Olympic Athletes (these games were about so much more than Jessie Owens, but alas, the media only wrote about the "winners." For a more intense look at these games and the 18 African Americans Who Defied Jim Crow and Adolf Hitler to compete in these games, check out Deborah Riley Draper's, "Olympic Pride: American Prejudice!"

I loved learning a bit more about Mary McLeod Bethune (last year, my public library had a woman come in who dressed up and gave a presentation as Ms. Bethune), Guion Stewart Bluford (American Astronaut and MORE!), Tarana Burke (Me Too), Cab Calloway, Ruth E. Carter, Kathleen Neal Cleaver (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC)), Mary Francis Hill Coley (a highly sought-after midwife because Black lives truly mattered to her), John William Coltrane - You cannot spell Jazz without knowing who Coltrane is, Claudette Colvin (a 15-year old who was Rosa BEFORE Rosa became famous), Aretha Franklin, Gregory Hines, Jackie Joyner Kersee, Henrietta Lacks (To learn more, check out the book, "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks." Did you know that you can still but HeLa cells on the internet? While I'm beyond grafeful for the research done using her cells, the way the medical community went about obtaining [and still using these] was wrong), John Lewis (the graphic novel trilogy, March, Books 1-3, are [well] worth some of your time), Annie Turnbo Malone (America's first black female millionaire from her "Hair Grower,") the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Toni Morrison (she won the Pulitzer for "Beloved," but "The Bluest Eye" made more of an impact with this reader), Satchel Paige, a former Cleveland Indian, he was the first of the Negro Leagues' stars to be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971), Harriet Powers - SUPER talented with a needle and thread / material; her claim to fame is Story Quilts - her first story quilt is part of the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., while her 2nd is held by the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. The illustration of Richard Pryor is extremely well-done. It reflects not only his colorful humor, but the many colors of deep pain (abuse?) of being Black, poor, and feeling uncared for by the masses.

Scattered throughout our 4-6+ page essays on a variety of topics by different individuals - I found these interesting, especially the one called, "A History of Rituals" by Reverend Marvin K. White. I also enjoyed "We Are Black History" by Emil Wilbekin, a Journalist.

There are so many more people that I did not mention - I encourage you to read this important addition to Black History!

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shame a book with as an important topic such as this uses “slaves“ rather than enslaved people but still an interesting and well put together read

[Isha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m moved!! I learned about so many people I’d never heard of before that I’m even more dedicated to learning. I’m humbled and in awe. This book was truly inspirational for me.

[Skip · Rating 3 out of 5]

2-page biographies of 145 black people, male and female, from many different walks of life (writers, politicians, activists, athletes, actors, musicians, dancers, etc.), many of which I did not know. George McCalman also did portraits of each person using a variety of artistic techniques, and there are some essays dealing with more general topics, which provided a broader social context for what it means to be black. Glad I read it, but some of these folks deserved more than two pages, and I did not like that the women were always referred to by their married names, even when their accomplishments were prior to marriage.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars? Nah—10.
Illustrated Black History by George McCalman is a straight-up masterpiece. Stunning portraits. Jaw-dropping facts. Black brilliance on every page.

Some names I knew, some had me saying, “How did I not know this?!” From astronauts to Aretha, from Colin Kaepernick to cinematic saints—you get it all, beautifully drawn and boldly told.

This ain’t just a book—it’s a whole Black history flex.
Buy it. Gift it. Brag about it.

#BlackExcellence #HistoryWithFlavor #GeorgeMcCalmanDidThat #10StarsNot5

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great over view of black history and the people who make up that history. It also is really cool how the author created art for each of the people who were spotlighted. This art really makes this a cool book that I could see having as an reference book (if I had not gotten it out of the library and therefore have to return it LOL) Over all both a very accessible book and a very gorgeous book.

[Tracey Compton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful collection and undertaking by George McCalman that highlights black history makers and pioneers both familiar and unsung. This book is more than a coffee table piece. It makes a wonderful gift and study for many households. I am so anamored with the author and illustrators' talent to pique visual and intellectual interests. I am probably the first one to check out a copy from my library, but I plan to add it to my shelf soon as I envision returning to it again and again.

[Krystie Herndon · Rating 5 out of 5]

My husband, who knows me well, enjoys looking around and finding books we've never heard of, that he thinks I'll enjoy. This book was not only a serendipitous find, but it is now among my favorites, not only about Black history, but also about people, and art, and the 99% of history that rarely gets mentioned in standard history textbooks. The artwork alone is stunning, and the short bios written with honest admiration. Worth perusing more than once, and lending to others.

[Isha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m moved!! I learned about so many people I’d never heard of before that I’m even more dedicated to learning. I’m humbled and in awe. This book was truly inspirational for me.

[Nichelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a wealth of information and soooo many people I never heard of..along with the pictures, it was such an interesting read. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

[Twinkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a one and done read. I have gone through it several times learning about Black artists that I was never taught about. Gorgeous illustrations and information.

[Charmaine Si · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the beautiful arts and readings.

[Bajidc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art book with bits of history or history book with bits of art: either way, this is an outstanding collection of gorgeous portraits with accompanying history lessons on inspirational figures.

[Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of the wonderfuls. One day they will all be mixed in with the whole group, but right now it is a perfect rich dish.

[Sienna · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good and it’s an important book but some of the writing would drag on and move away from the person

[BookDrunkard is on storygraph as bookdrunkard78 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully illustrated and lovingly created!

[Bailey Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic book! each page discusses a different persons life throughout history and paired with a beautiful drawing of them as well !

[Anna Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is brilliant and should be required reading. True American history.

[Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at the unsung Black history makers

[El | libro.vermo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ever since I learned about Claudette Colvin (thanks, Drunk History), I’ve been interested in learning more about the people behind the scenes of history. Unfortunately, too many of those people belong to marginalized communities. We all know America (and, I mean, a lot of the world) loves to whitewash its history and it’s nice to see books like this that seek to correct that.

I learned… A LOT about Black people who made a significant contributions to our society and culture and have gone unrecognized for far too long. There were a few people who really stood out to me, and among them was Augusta Braxton Baker, who, in 1934, was the first Black person to receive a bachelors degree in library science. She worked at the New York Public Library and worked to remove books with harmful stereotypes about Black people from the children’s library. She also made sure there was accurate representation in books for Black children. She went on to consult for Sesame Street and someone even wrote a book (called My Dog Rinty) in which she was a character. There are bigger stories in the book, but you will also find stories like Baker’s. Her work might seem small compared to the famous Black people everyone has heard of, like Rosa Parks or Martin Luther King Jr., but it was so important and it touched so many lives.

The art is beautiful. I love that George McCalman used different mediums and that each portrait was heavily influenced by his knowledge of the person he was drawing/painting/etc. It’s obvious that he put great care into creating a portrait for each person that was uniquely theirs.

This would be a really great book to have around to pick up and flip through here and there. The bio on each person is short enough that you could turn to a random page, admire the art, learn something, repeat. That sounds fun. Maybe I’ll buy a copy!

[Marilyn]

Engaging, colorful, concise sketches

“I had a curiosity. This project was born out of an interest in a series of separate things that overlapped. The past and the present. My internal and external self. My understanding of my soul through a connection with my community. I was curious about knowing Black history better than I already did, and I was also curious to see if I was an artist.”

“One man can be a crucial ingredient on a team, but one man cannot make a team.” ~ Kareem Abdul Jabbar (1947-Present)

1780-1858 “Who has not heard of Cato Alexander!? Not to know Cato’s is not to know the world.” ~William Dunlap