Hey Black Child

Black History Month

Staff recommendations, guest essays, and curated reading lists.

Six-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and four-time Caldecott Honor recipient Bryan Collier brings this classic, inspirational poem to life, written by poet Useni Eugene Perkins.

Hey black child,
Do you know who you are?
Who really are?
Do you know you can be
What you want to be
If you try to be
What you can be?

This lyrical, empowering poem celebrates black children and seeks to inspire all young people to dream big and achieve their goals.

"Collier's characteristic watercolor-and-collage masterpieces bring joy and gravity to Perkins's inspirational poem. With a compelling rhythm that begs for recitation, the verse celebrates the power and potential of black children... A rousing celebration and call to action, this book is a great choice for every library." School Library Journal (Starred Review)

"Perkins's poem has always made for a stirring recitation; new and old fans will find that Collier's images do full justice to it." Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)

"The punchy text and the invigorating art make this a wonderful choice for story hours or classroom discussion where children can voice their own dreams." Booklist

Useni Eugene Perkins is a distinguished poet, playwright, and youth worker. He is the author of Harvesting New Generations: The Positive Development of Black Youth; Home Is a Dirty Street: The Social Oppression of Black Children; and Black Fairy and Other Plays. He currently lives in Chicago.

Bryan Collier has illustrated more than 25 picture books, including the award-winning Trombone Shorty, Dave the Potter, and Knock Knock: My Father’s Dream for Me, as well as City Shapes, and Fifty Cents and a Dream, and has received four Caldecott Honors and six Coretta Scott King Awards. He lives with his wife and children in Marlboro, New York.