Just Like Jesse Owens

In "Just Like Jesse Owens," a poignant narrative unfolds that is steeped in the turbulent history of 1930s New Orleans. This collaborative effort by civil rights icon Ambassador Andrew Young and his daughter Paula Young Shelton, with evocative illustrations by Caldecott Honor winner Gordon C. James, explores a transformative day in Young's childhood amidst racial tensions fueled by a local Nazi chapter. The story artfully conveys the lesson imparted by Young's father: to combat the venom of racism not with anger but with intellect and resilience, symbolized by Jesse Owens' triumphant sprint in the Olympics. This tale not only highlights the early seeds of Young's principles of nonviolence and his eventual role as a key advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. but also serves as an essential read for elementary school students delving into the complexities of racial justice. "Just Like Jesse Owens" invigorates the spirit and challenges young readers to think about how historical lessons can guide contemporary actions towards equality.