"Growing up with a mother suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and a mostly absent father, Nikki Grimes found herself terrorized by babysitters, shunted from foster family to foster family, and preyed upon by those she trusted. At the age of six, she poured her pain onto a piece of paper late one night - and discovered the magic and impact of writing. For many years, Nikki's notebooks were her most enduing companions. In this accessible and inspiring...

An illustrated biography of the Harlem poet whose works gave voice to the joy and pain of the black experience in America.

Examines the private life and literary accomplishments of the writer whose varied works reflect the traditions, feelings, and experiences of African Americans.

"Throughout her prodigious life, activist and lawyer Pauli Murray systematically fought against all arbitrary distinctions in society, channeling her outrage at the discrimination she faced to make America a more democratic country. In this definitive biography, Rosalind Rosenberg offers a poignant portrait of a figure who played pivotal roles in both the modern civil rights and women's movements. A mixed-race orphan, Murray grew up in segregated...

Profiles the life of Nikki Giovanni, from her childhood in Knoxville and Cincinnati to her career as an out-spoken, influential, award-winning poet.