Grandpa, Is Everything Black Bad?

by Sandy Lynne Holman, Lela Kometiani (Illustrator)

When Montsho, an African American boy, asks his grandfather "Is everthing black bad?", his grandfather tells him about his African heritage and how his dark skin and his heritage are very good things

Genres: Childrens, Picture Books, Realistic Fiction, African American, Family

32 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Abbery Milhouse-cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Montsho, a young African American child, is the main character in this rich and meaningful story. Throughout the book, he reflected and questioned the negative connotations of the color black (ex. black worn to funerals, a black eye, black sheep). His Grandpa (Rufus) addressed and answered his questions by orally telling him about the history of his race. His Grandpa painted the color black as beautiful, through his words, songs, and deeds. He encourages Montsho to never look down upon his race, his history, or himself. As a teacher, this story would be a great way to incorporate history into literacy. This story has great historical details about African and African American culture. The history is told from the perspective of an African American. Therefore, the historical content of this book is different from that of a traditional textbook. Not only does this book have a non-traditional historical perspective on history, it also encourages children. The story teaches that children are beautiful, no matter what others say about them. Children need to hear this message over and over again, because bullying is an issue that many are faced with today. Encouragement like this is much needed. Students can also interactively connect to this story. For example, they could accurately retell a historical event from a non-traditional perspective. For example, the students could tell the system of slavery from an African American's perspective, rather than a White man's perspective. The author, Sandy Holman, relates to the cultural group presented in this book; because she is African American. She is a counselor and director of the Culture CO-OP, and she used her experiences to write a historical/cultural accurate children's book. She was inspired to write this book, after hearing from African American school-aged children, who disliked their skin tone.

[Becky Birtha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here's a positive book, providing an answer to a question that will come up, sooner or later, in the life of a black child. The book has some weaknesses, such as unevenness, and comes across like a self-published book (the end-papers include phone numbers for ordering additional copies, and promote the author's visits and book signings), but there's plenty of information to answer the question raised by the title, in both the words and the colorful illustrations.

[Hyacinth · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first started reading it, I thought how sad, this is depressing. As I kept reading though, I realize as African-American children inundated by the media, this is the subliminal message received. Overall, the book was an introduction into the dialog of where we came from as a people. It was not heavy, but age appropriate for a child.

[Leah Edel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summary:
Montsho, a young African American child, believes that everything that is black is bad, because that’s how the world seems. When you go to funerals you wear black, when two people are fighting the evil one is always black, then things burn they turn black, and much more. So, one day Montsho asked his dad if everything that is black is bad. His grandpa explained to him that no it does not have to do with the outside or the color of things, its all about what is on the inside. Then his grandpa goes on to explain what heritage is and what Montsho’s African heritage is all about.

Possible Topics:
1. It is about how someone is on the outside that matters.
2. Everyone has a heritage that reflects how they are today.
3. It is important to have a role model to talk to about things like this.

[Cara Byrne · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Be proud of your dark skin. It represents a proud people and black is truly a beautiful color. It was passed down to you by Africans who lived before you and your heritage is like no other. Mostly, be proud of the love in your heart and all that you have within. It's the love that you share with people around you that matters the most in the end." I found this book on the shelves of the Cleveland Children's museum and thought that it thoughtfully described and redefined cultural connotations of the color Black. More about the author can be found here: https://www.cultureco-op.com/sandy-ho...

[Sydney Huntington-Strohm · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a little boy questioning who is bad because he is different than everyone else. The grandpa listens to the boy's concerns and over time he tells the boy the importance of history and heritage. I would recommend the book to fought graders to help them understand how history defines a person. And you could use the book leading into an assignment to have the age group find out more about where they came from.

[Sharaya Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great illustrations!

I was drawn to this book by the title question.

While I fully believe that there could be much deeper conversations on the topic of black skin and the meaning behind identifying feelings with color symbolism, I also understand that this particular title is meant for younger children and so, I feel the pace is perfect for that.

[Sydney Kalacinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book a multicultural book that talks about all of the things portrayed as bad are black so they think they are bad as well because the color of their skin. The book then goes on to talk about the child's heritage and wht they should be proud of.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Realistic Fiction

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The purpose of this book is clear, to counteract the negative messages that African American children internalize about their skin color. It lists all the ways society dichotomizes black and white imagery through the questions of a young boy. Then, his gradfather takes him on a journey where he tells the boy about his "heritage." The book describes the beauty of Africa and explains how Africans contributed to world history which leads to the chant, "Be proud of your black skin and the love you have within and remember your heritage is African." The story ends by the boy asking his grandpa if White people have heritage too. The grandpa briefly anwers yes and talks about European Americans. It ends as if another book might be coming about European American heritage.

I like the story and the message, but as a literacy specialist the varying sizes of the fonts bothered me. The book starts out with few words on each page as if it will be a read aloud for young children. But the pages of the last half of the book are stuffed with text at a level more appropriate for older readers. The text seemed to be organized by the illustrations instead of the illustrations flowing with the text.

The pictures appear to be watercolor and pen. They are filled with primary colors on multi-color backgrounds.

The book is produced by The Culture Co-op.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

- This book is about a young African American boy names Montsho who asks his father about their skin color, black. His grandfather then explains to him that the color black is not bad and tells him the history behind their heritage. At the end when Montsho also asks if White Americans also have a heritage, the story ends with the grandpa telling Montsho about the heritage of White Americans. This book builds on equality and race, telling children that no race is superior over the other as we are all made equally.

[Ashley Correll · Rating 3 out of 5]

A young African American child poses the question "Is everything black bad?" to his grandfather after he notices some items in society which are black are associated with dark, evil, scary or bad things. The grandfather takes the boy through a historical journey that reassures him otherwise and helps him to appreciate his own skin color.

[Valarie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although the beginning poem is pleasant and thought-provoking, the rest of the book devolves into something nonsensical. For the first ten pages, two couplets comprise the entire text of each page, but suddenly the author switches to length paragraphs, switching narrators almost constantly. Definitely not a well-structured book!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Children are inquisitive by nature. Help children young and old discover the beauty of the color black with it's rich ancestral history.

[Guadalupe Ramirez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it sends a powerful message to everyone, to be proud of your heritage and to love yourself.

[Tosha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. Definitely helps with anti-bias and self pride teaching. Love this book.

[Amy Cobbs · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is sure to capture your heart

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written book.

[Jillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Important message, but very text heavy book (even in spots it doesn't need to be - like setting the scene paragraph that can be seen just from the picture and pulls out of the story)

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about an African American child who thinks that everything black is bad including him. His Grandpa shows him that their heritage is beautiful and so is being African America.

Use in the classroom
-teach how African Americans feel
-it is a good multicultural picture book
-can teach them about other heritages