Illustrated Black History: Honoring the Iconic and the Unseen

*WINNER OF THE NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work - Debut Author*

A gorgeous collection of 145 original portraits that celebrates Black pioneers--famous and little-known--in politics, science, literature, music, and more--with biographical reflections, all created and curated by an award-winning graphic designer.

Illustrated Black History is a breathtaking collection of original portraits depicting black heroes--both famous and unsung--who made their mark on activism, science, politics, business, medicine, technology, food, arts, entertainment, and more. Each entry includes a lush drawing or painting by artist George McCalman, along with an insightful essay summarizing the person's life story.

The 145 entries range from the famous to the little-known, from literary luminary James Baldwin to documentarian Madeline Anderson, who produced "I Am Somebody" about the 1969 strike of mostly female hospital workers; from Aretha Franklin to James and Eloyce Gist, who had a traveling ministry in the early 1900s; from Colin Kaepernick to Guion S. Bluford, the first Black person to travel into space.

Beautifully designed with over 300 unique four-color artworks and accessible to readers of all ages, this eye-opening, educational, dynamic, and timely compendium pays homage to Black Americans and their achievements, and showcases the depth and breadth of Black genius.

Author: George McCalman
Publisher: HarperOne
Published: 09/27/2022
Pages: 384
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 2.51lbs
Size: 9.20h x 7.40w x 1.40d
ISBN: 9780062913234


Review Citation(s):
Library Journal Prepub Alert 05/01/2021 pg. 21
Publishers Weekly 07/11/2022
Booklist 09/01/2022 pg. 23
Kirkus Reviews 01/01/0001

About the Author
McCalman, George: -

George McCalman is an artist, graphic designer, and creative director based in San Francisco. His studio, McCalman.co creates long-lasting brands for clients across arts, lifestyle, food, and mobile media. He is a senior lecturer in graphic design at California College of Art and is the author and illustrator for the San Francisco Chronicle's monthly "Observed" and "First Person' column.

Osayi Endolyn is a James Beard Award-winning writer with work in the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Eater, Food & Wine, Time, Condé Nast Traveler, and the Oxford American. She appears in Chef's Table and Ugly Delicious, and has been featured on NPR's 1A and the Sporkful. She is co-author of The Rise: Black Cooks and the Soul of American Food. She lives in New York.