One More River to Cross: An African American Photograph Album

by Walter Dean Myers

This intimate collection of photographs documents the African American experience, a journey from captivity to freedom, from south to north, east to west. It celebrates the courageous achievements of men and women whose defiant rejection of inequality and subjugation put their own lives at risk.

Genres: Nonfiction

166 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1995

About the author

pseudonyms:
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson

Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.

After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.

Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.

In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.

Reviews

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I stumbled upon this book as I was looking for a different book with a similar title. I was surprised to see a photograph album by YA literary giant, Walter Dean Myers. He introduces readers to ordinary African Americans through the decades laughing, working, loving and carrying on despite racism. The beautiful words of Myers carry you through the book. What a nice surprise in the library!

[Brenda Kahn]

I came across this gem while weeding my middle school library collection. Don't rush through this. The prose is powerful and the photos are striking.

[Laura Currey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love history and vintage photos so this book was right up my alley. The text reads like a moving piece of poetry. Loved.

[Rll520a_Christina Coleman]

Fantastic, large, black and white photographs pave the way of this journey. The book and the pictures highlight the life of African Americans through the couse of the US history. From the late 1700 to the 1970s photographs depict daily life, tragedy and triumph alike. Wonderful book to had in a collection.

[Jess Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really cool

[Luke Stevens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't remember where/why I got this, but it was a good flip through of photos