Freedom Over Me
Freedom Over Me tells the story of eleven slaves from their point of view. Ashley Bryan has taken a collection of slave-related documents from the 1820s to the 1860s. He then decided to write about eleven slaves that were for sale on the Fairchild’s Appraisement. He gave these eleven slaves a voice and shared the dreams he thought they would have. The stories are written in free verse to emphasize the characters’ words. Bryan wanted the slaves to be seen as human beings because they are and deserve to be seen that way. He gave each an age and a job on the estate. This book opened my eyes to how slaves lived their lives and how they felt. It tugged at my heart many times to read what they feared and what they may lose when being sold. Bryan did a fantastic job at bringing these eleven slaves to life.
The illustrations in this book bring the characters even more to life. The way Bryan drew/painted the illustrations and features of each character, gave more depth and story to that character. This picture is of Betty, 36 and $150, and is shown on her dreams page. This picture is beautiful and it allows the reader to see Betty more than a slave for sale. But as a human being who has hopes and desires for her life. Bryan does this with every character in the book and allows the reader to connect and understand the characters.
One book that would go great with Freedom Over Me is Freedom in Congo Square by Carole Boston Weatherford. Freedom in Congo Square tells the importance of this historical location located in New Orleans. Congo Square is where slaves could go on Sunday’s to socialize with one another, practice their African religious beliefs, buy and sale goods, and play African songs. Congo Square is where the slaves felt free and were able to be themselves. These two books could be read together and the class could discuss what is something new they learned from the books and what were some of the jobs the slaves shared in the two books.
A Crack in the Sea Persona Poem
Venus
I am different and courageous
I live in a cave with a statue in a place of solid ground, Tathenland
I wonder about my past and where I’m from
I hear the voices of those I have led
I see the door that led me and the others to a safer world
I want to remember everything that has happened to me
I am nervous about recalling my memories
I am different, courageous, a leader, and caring
I question if I should have taken on more leadership with Swimmer
I feel I could have done more
I taste the water in the nearby bay I have walked in
I worry about what I may remember from my past
I excel at creating my own path in life and helping others
I understand that my actions were meaningful
I am different, courageous, independent, and hopeful
I say good-bye and good luck
I believe people can become better versions of themselves
I dream this world will continue to be good
I try to help the Kraken find his wife
I hope Ren can come back and do good in the world
I was once bold and strong
But now I am old and must go
I am different and courageous
What’s a Persona Poem?
A persona poem is a poem written by the reader about one of the characters in the book written in first person. A persona poem helps the reader develop better understanding of the character and develop empathetic responses. Writing a persona poem can help the reader make the transition of moving through the “sliding glass door” because the persona poem acts as a “wardrobe” (Frye, Hardin, Bouwman, and Stumb, 2018). In an earlier blog post, I wrote about how books can act as a mirror, a window, or a sliding glass door. sometimes, it is difficult for readers to make the transition through a sliding glass door into a whole new world/perspective. With the help of a persona poem, the reader can make the transition easier while developing a better understanding of the character in the book.
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