Ellington Was Not a Street

Written by Ntozake Shange · Illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Discover a community of Black innovators who defied adversity and sparked a movement that changed the world.

4.2 Goodreads · 1,452 ratings

40 pages· 124 words· Est. 1 min read-aloud· ~550L

$19.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In a time of racial segregation, a group of visionary Black thinkers gathered in one home, defying societal limits. Through adversity, they celebrated Black culture and ignited a transformative movement. Their legacy continues to inspire and guide us today. Explore their story through vivid art and poetic reflection.

From the publisher

Featuring luminous art by Coretta Scott King Award-winning illustrator Kadir Nelson, this reflective picture book by poet Ntozake Shange looks back at the great Black thinkers and innovators who visited her father’s house. A close-knit group of Black innovators formed their own community in the early to mid-twentieth century. These men of vision lived at a time when the color of their skin dictated where they could live, what schools they could attend, and even where they could sit on a bus or in a movie theater. Yet in the face of this tremendous adversity, these dedicated souls and others like them not only demonstrated the importance of Black culture in America, but also helped issue in a movement that changed the world. Their lives and their works inspire us to this day and serve as a guide to how we approach the challenges of tomorrow.