Before the Ships: The Birth of Black Excellence

by Maisha Oso, Candice Bradley (Illustrator)

Before the Ships is a powerful and poetic celebration of the early roots of Black history. The great achievements and accomplishments across Africa prior to the Transatlantic slave trade are told through melodious text and evocative illustrations, that culminate into the strength and resilience of modern-day Black people.

For so many of us, the first introduction to Black history begins with lessons about slavery. While slavery is a crucial part of African-American history, it is not the beginning. In fact, there is a rich history tied to the continent of Africa that deserves to be told and to be marveled at-- which is exactly what Maisha Oso does in Before the Ships. With sparse yet moving text, Maisha takes us back in time to before the advent of the Transatlantic slave trade. We see the grandness of African royalty, the bravery of warriors like the Queen of Kush, and stories being told in song with griots and drums. Candice Bradley's gorgeous and reflective illustrations illuminate the strength of Black history and Black joy, reminding readers about the power within us all.

Genres: Picture Books, History, Poetry, Childrens, Africa, Historical, African American

Kindle Edition

Published August 6, 2024

About the author

Maisha Oso writes stories to empower, entertain, and encourage emotional intelligence in young children. A former strategy & analytics professional from New York City, Maisha is currently working in her most challenging role to date: a stay-at-home mom of three tiny humans.

When she’s not writing, you can find her wrangling her kids, binge-watching an unhealthy amount of reality television, or belting out lyrics from the Hamilton soundtrack. After living abroad for several years in Africa, Maisha and her family have recently moved back stateside to Alpharetta, Georgia.

Reviews

[Octavia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this book is Utterly Mesmerizing 💜💙.
Maisha Oso even mentions Lalibela Ethiopia in the Author's Note. I love that Historical town.

[Bethe · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. Brilliant book stemming from author’s wonder why African American history at her school only spanned slavery times to civil rights. Such a rich history of culture and accomplishments celebrated with evocative, lush illustrations. The spread with ship and no text is compelling, page turn to the amazing people of today. Pair with Born on the Water for a more upbeat perspective.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

With gorgeous illustrations and a lyrical text, this beautiful book celebrates African history. There are evocative descriptions of thriving communities all across the African continent. "The mother of mankind, we birthed creation, cradled civilizations, nurtured nations." In the author's note, Oso says she wrote this story because she wanted children to "know that Black history does not begin with slavery -- that before they were bound, they were free." Although there aren't timelines and sources listed, this is a thought-provoking book that will inspire readers to learn more about African history and will provide a great resource to begin units about Black history.

"Here we stand, after the ships,
as amazing as we've always been.
Still daring to dream the impossible.
Unstoppable, we continue to tell our stories,
showing the world that Black lives
have always mattered."

[Aolund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lyrical picture book about the powerful, rich, royal, and artistic African legacy of the Black diaspora. Written in direct address to the Black child. A warm song of Black love that directly names and includes the slave trade, but focuses on Black power and pride.

Themes: Black History, Black Genius, Black diaspora
Age range: Kindergarten-Early elementary

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and essential for any discussion of Black history. Thank you to Scholastic for the advance readers copy and the opportunity to hear from author Maisha Oso.

[Roxana Barnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC- absolutely beautiful

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book with lovely art and a powerful message!

[Nicole Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

While telling the plight of the slaves in America is important, so is having a history of Africans before slavery. Often in American schools, African American history only contains slavery through MLK, framing that history to only be important in regards to their suffering. This beautiful book touches on Africans before the European invasion and the importance in seeing Africans as not just slaves but many powerful and diverse cultures with achievements and world importance. I really loved this book. Every page could be art on display. I also think it would be a better start to African American history; to talk about the accomplished cultures and kingdoms that existed before the ships would bring a better understanding of what was disrupted and destroyed because of the ships.

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

A lyrical tribute to Black history, culture, and resilience. Fighting against Black history being boiled down to only slavery and the Civil Rights Movement, Oso highlights the complexity and diversity of Black history in the time before the transatlantic slave trade. She explores rulers, warriors, creators, builders, and stargazers across the African continent, closing the distance between the past and the present.

The breathtaking illustrations perfectly showcase the beauty, power, determination, joy, and intelligence expressed in the text. They wonderfully depict the diversity of their subjects across distance and time.

A moving, powerful celebration of the expanse of Black history and a beautiful place to begin diving in to a fuller view of history.

[Vanity La’Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

The ship came but never forget what we were before . Never forget that they may have felt like we needed to be validated by them , but we were already VALID. We were royalty, healers, growers, builders and all the amazing things we were made to think we needed to earn in the eyes of those that took us when that ship came.

Even when that ship came, they didn’t realize it’s in us, not on us and we are still brilliant, resilient, black excellence .

This was giving power to all the beauty of what Africa was and I’m sure still is and not just minimizing us to “the people who were stolen and enslaved”.

We exuded brilliance and excellence then , we do now and will continue to do so.

Beautiful illustrations as well.
🌍👸🏿⭐️

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listening to Maisha Oso talk about her book was a beautiful introduction to the book before I was able to sit with it and take it all in. Illustrated with depth by Candice Bradley, they compliment Oso's words in showcasing the cradle of civilization with such pages as "The mother of mankind, / we birthed creation, / cradled civilizations, / nurtured nations" and where she shows the mosques carved out of lava rock and sang songs and were kings and queens.

A moving tribute to Black excellence for sure.

[Connie T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This beautifully illustrated picture book explores Black history in a way like no other. Focusing on the early years of Black history, before transatlantic slave trade, we see examples of kings and queens, thriving communities, mosques, and palaces, culture, and science. Then, in a two-page spread we see a large ship coming. Uh oh! We can imagine what will happen next. But no. The author doesn't mention slavery at all. When we turn the page, we see present day Black people who continue to dream and contribute. A very positive story!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I celebrate the books that give a much more in-depth account of those individuals who were brought to the United States from Africa and sold as slaves. In school, students are often taught history from slavery to civil rights, but so much more exists. This book touches on the kingdoms and countries and diverse civilizations that existed for thousands of years in Africa before the ugly chapter of slavery. We need to be touching more about these civilizations and celebrating their rich heritage.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 4 out of 5]

THANK YOU. Finally a book that acknowledges that Black heritage is more than slavery. That their story did not just begin and end with slavery and the Civil Rights movement. That there is so much more. That there was a beginning, a beautiful beginning....and that there is still continuing to shine brightly.

My goodness, these illustrations are stunning and I am so glad this book exists, especially for my Black friends <3

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

The illustrations were lovely. The message about black history before slavery was written in a way that made me want to explore more. For instance, the “churches carved from a single volcanic rock”. I’d not heard of that before, and upon reading the Authors Note and after a quick Google search I found information on the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela in Ethiopia. There is a lot referenced in the book that makes you want to learn more and imo that is a sign of a good book.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed from an ARC.

A beautifully illustrated tribute to Black roots and ancestors, and a frequently ignored piece of our shared human history. A reminder that history is expansive and inclusive and there are always more stories to find.

My sole complaint is that I want more information: either sources for the history presented in the book, or other places to go for more.

[Ellon · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars (I really liked it)

I am very much NOT the target audience for this book. But I still enjoyed reading it and I really like knowing it is out there for Black children to read. The illustrations are gorgeous and the text tells of the history of Black people before slavery, a history rarely told but so important. The writing is lyrical and inspirational.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book, in words, pictures, and ideas. For all the effort I put into making sure my elementary students see stories of Black people that are not only about struggle and oppression, I’d never truly considered the story of Africans before their abduction into slavery. This book is much needed in classrooms and libraries.

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful book that shares the deep richness, culture, and innovation, of Black history. The author has succeeded in emphasizing that Black history did not start on a slave ship and end at the Civil Rights Movement. A must for any school library.

[Kyrie Shavers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kyrie said that he really liked this book. Being that we live in a state/district that observed a moment of silence or a racist on 9/16, I think it's very important to read books to him that acknowledge black excellence.

[Patricia Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stunning illustrations.

[Cheyenne · Rating 5 out of 5]

We found this book at the library in the new book section to bring home and read. It was incredibly beautiful both in its words and illustrations. It is now on my list of must read books with kids.

[Abbigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and encouraging book with okay illustrations about the history of Black people, mainly Americans?, before slavery.

[Shoshanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and inspiring!

[Julie Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations...

[Brandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full of life and movement and the richness of history, this book is beautiful in every single way.

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful illustrations.

[Johnea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful illustrations, beautiful story.

The black experience is more than what is in the history books, for sure.

[Jerrold Connors · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gentle, but strong. Affirming. It's like your grandmother's hand on your shoulder.

[Mortisha Cassavetes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful Illustrations! This is a picture book of about the pride and royalty of the Blacks before slavery and how their lives were. A wonderful book to read. I highly recommend it!