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In rhymed verse, Diesen brings young readers a basic history of voting rights in America \u2014 with an emphasis on the fact that, despite the country’s founders declaring that “consent of the governed was part of the plan,” this deal “was extended to some and for others not real.” Interspersed throughout the text is a growing line of marchers \u2014 marginalized citizens, such as people of color and women, all not granted the right to vote \u2014 repeatedly declaring equality’s call: “A right isn’t right \/ Till it’s granted to all.” Though this is a book aimed at very young readers (and, I think, for them would serve as a solid introduction to the history of voting rights in the United States, one that surely can be supplemented with other books and materials), there is no sugar-coating here of how it all played \u2014 and continues to play \u2014 out. “The dream of democracy,” the author writes wasn’t true, and she notes at the end that the work isn’t over: “Democracy’s dream \/ Must be constantly tended.” It’s a good conversation-starter, this one. <\/p>\n
Included in some spreads are the “group of voices” who spoke up \u2014 activists for voting rights and suffragists. Though slavery was declared to be over, Diesen writes, “denial through taxes and tests was widespread” \u2014 women’s voices were omitted, and voters of color experienced oppression and<\/em> suppression. One spread takes us through a timeline, beginning in 1924 with the Indian Citizenship Act and ending with the first extension of the Voting Rights Act in 1970. The book’s backmatter includes a list of voting-related amendments to the Constitution and other legislation. That is followed by a spread showing prominent voting rights activists \u2014 from Jane Addams to Ida B. Wells-Barnett (in the image opening this post) and many others in between. <\/p>\n Mora’s illustrations bring these determined activists to life, alongside a group of children learning about voting rights in a contemporary classroom. The page turns are compelling, given how she structures the illustrations. She’s here today to say a bit about that and to share early sketches and such. I thank her for sharing. <\/p>\n Magdalena<\/font><\/strong>: A lot of different considerations went into the art for Equality\u2019s Call<\/em>. Initially, nailing down a structure proved to be one of the most challenging parts of the process. I knew from the beginning that I wanted the art to tell two parallel stories: 1) The story of the historical figures and events that were seminal in the fight for voting rights and 2) the story of a modern-day classroom learning about the history of voting rights. The book\u2019s editor and art director really helped me clarify my murky semblance of a structure, as did Deborah Diesen\u2019s text with its lyrical refrains. Having a precise structure allowed me to then play and experiment with other visual elements (colors, textures, and hand-drawn type). Note for any new readers: 7-Imp\u2019s 7 Kicks is a weekly meeting ground for taking some time to reflect on Seven(ish) Exceptionally Fabulous, Beautiful, Interesting, Hilarious, or Otherwise Positive Noteworthy Things from the past week, whether book-related or not, that happened to you. New kickers are always welcome.<\/p>\n I will try to muster up some kicks this week. But I’m full-on depressed about this country (given the sham impeachment hearings this week) and the fact that our system of checks and balances is undeniably broken. <\/p>\n 1)<\/strong><\/font> My daughters got two days off from school this week. <\/p>\n 2)<\/strong><\/font> Actual snow. <\/p>\n 3)<\/strong><\/font> Reading some unputdownable novels. <\/p>\n 4)<\/strong><\/font> Getting caught up on blog-related emails (even if it took up most of my Saturday.) <\/p>\n
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And your gender, your race, \/ And your wealth were of note.”<\/em>
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A right isn’t a right \/ Till it’s granted to all.”<\/em>
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\nEQUALITY’S CALL: THE STORY OF VOTING RIGHTS IN AMERICA. Text copyright \u00a9 2020 by Deborah Diesen. Illustrations copyright \u00a9 2020 by Magdalena Mora and reproduced by permission of the publisher, Beach Lane Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, New York. All preliminary images reproduced by permission of Magdalena Mora.<\/em> <\/p>\n
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