A fascinating true story about Wangari Maathi, who almost by accident became an environmental and peace activist in Kenya, her country, thus winning the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 and sparking the Green Belt Movement. This book also shows the healing powers of nature, specifically the trees which Maathi and the women of Kenya planted to refresh their spirits after droughts and political strife brought hunger and suffering to her country.
Using a collage of rhythmically-patterned fabric, illustrator Kadir Nelson shows the subtle yet powerful emotions of Mama Miti and her people in oil paints for the faces and arms. In his note to the reader, Nelson says, "I chose to use these materials because African culture is rich with textiles and color...to reflect an aesthetic of both East Africa and my own work."
There are also an Afterword which contains a biography of Wangari Muta Maathi, a Kikuyu Glossary and Notes from the author and the illustrator.
For futher reading:
Maathi, Wangari Muta. "Unbowed: A Memoir." New York: knopf, 2006. Print.
Maathi, Wangari Muta. "the green Belt Movement: Shaing the Approach and the Experience. New York: Lantern Books, 2004. Print.
Ndegwa, Stephen N. "The Two Faces of Civil Society: NGOs and Politcs in Africa. West Hartford, CT: Kumarian Press, 1996. Print.
Brill, Alida. "A Rising Public Voice: Women in Politics Worldwide." New york: Feminist Press at CUNY, 1995. Print.
Internet Sources:
http://greenbletmovement.org/index.php
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2004/maathi-lecture.html
http://nobelprize.org.nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2004/maathi-bio.html
http://www.naturekenya.org/index.htmp
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Nozake Shange, Coretta Scott, HarperCollins Publishers, 2009.
This biography of Coretta Scott, the wife of Dr. martin Luther King, Jr., expresses the simplicity of peace through the poetry of Ntozake Shange and the oil painting illustrations of Kadir Nelson.
The end page includes a picture of Coretta Scott addressing the crowd on the Mall at the March on Washington in 1963, as well as a second, parallel biography written in prose form by author Shange.
Obviously an inspirational read, this book provides insights into Coretta Scott King's elegant yet tough-minded character that are not generally known. The poetry and illustrations are powerful and emotive and remarkably subtle, each reinforcing the message of justice as a beautiful force in the world.
The end page includes a picture of Coretta Scott addressing the crowd on the Mall at the March on Washington in 1963, as well as a second, parallel biography written in prose form by author Shange.
Obviously an inspirational read, this book provides insights into Coretta Scott King's elegant yet tough-minded character that are not generally known. The poetry and illustrations are powerful and emotive and remarkably subtle, each reinforcing the message of justice as a beautiful force in the world.
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