Books like Strange fruit by Joel Christian Gill

Strange Fruit Volume I presents a vivid graphic anthology of nine African‑American figures whose deeds are seldom highlighted in conventional history books. The book offers historians, educators and young readers a fresh visual perspective on notable achievements in the face of adversity. Illustrated and penned by Joel Christian Gill, each narrative captures the spirit of the individual while providing important cultural and historical context. Stories feature heroes such as Henry "Box" Brown, who escaped slavery by mailing himself to Philadelphia; Alexander Crummel’s Noyes Academy, the nation’s first integrated school of the 1830s; Marshall "Major" Taylor, the Black Cyclone and first Black champion in any sport; and Bass Reeves, a legendary Old‑West lawman. The work combines comic‑strip artistry with biography to make the past accessible, engaging, and memory‑making for juvenile and adult readers alike.

First publish date: 2014