A Long Time Coming: A Lyrical Biography of Race in America from Ona Judge to Barack Obama

by Ray Anthony Shepard, R. Gregory Christie (Illustrator)

This YA biography-in-verse of six important Black Americans from different eras, including Ona Judge, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack Obama, chronicles the diverse ways each fought racism and shows how much—and how little—has changed for Black Americans since our country’s founding.

Full of daring escapes, deep emotion, and subtle lessons on how racism operates, A LONG TIME COMING reveals the universal importance of its subjects’ struggles for justice. From freedom seeker Ona Judge, who fled her enslavement by America’s first president, to Barack Obama, the first Black president, all of Shepard’s protagonists fight valiantly for justice for themselves and all Black Americans in any way that they can.  But it is also a highly personal book, as Shepard — whose maternal grandfather was enslaved — shows how the grand sweep of history has touched his life, reflecting on how much progress has been made against racism, while also exhorting readers to complete the vast work that remains to be done.

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction, History, Biography, Novel In Verse, Historical, African American

336 pages, Hardcover

Published August 8, 2023

Reviews

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Astra Publishing House, for the advance reading copy.

I love this collection of verses which accurately tells about six Black Americans from various era their journey, their struggles on how they went against injustice and oppression.

Even though it seems like we have come far, some of the things still stay vivid and relevant at the present moment. It’s books like this that would urge the present generation and the generations to come that injustice should not prevail no matter what caste or colour we belong to.

This is a short book but it holds all the important truths for all the generations.

Must read recommendation.

[Krista · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, written in verse, that tells the biographies of various historical African Americans. Highly recommend for YA (for anyone really).

[Renata · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a lot to like about this book and I think it could work well in a classroom setting especially. I really appreciated the way it shows the timeline and how these 6 notable figures (Ona Judge, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, Martin Luther King Jr, Barack Obama) overlapped with each other and built off of each other.

I will say that in the MLK section I noticed that it presents the typical simplified version of the Rosa Parks story--that she simply was tired and wouldn't move from her seat, rather than the strategic decision planned in advance by her along with her NAACP chapter--made me a little skeptical. (To say nothing of Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice). And I understand that it's short, biographies in verse of each figure and it wasn't necessarily a chapter about Rosa Parks but like...it could have just been a couple more sentences really.

But as a whole text I think it works very well.

[Beth Honeycutt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful

[Janessa Paun · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.45 stars. I really enjoyed the way that history was presented in this book. It made it more interesting to read than a regular old history book.

[KB · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another read for a graduate course - I learned a lot of new history about new (to me) people like Ona Judge and learned more in depth about Frederick and Harriet and Barack. As well as more about Thomas Shipp and what led to his tragic lynching. This is a YA book but everyone should read it. 3 starts as nonfiction is rarely my choice but I'm glad I picked this for this week's reading/assignment.

[Christiana Doucette · Rating 5 out of 5]

A biography-in-verse of race in America starting with Ona Judge, who escaped slavery in George Washington's household. This book highlighted the history of Black Americans like Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells, and MLK Jr.. I've read a lot of Black History now, yet there were still aspects of Black experience in America that I found myself looking up after reading parts of this story. It's beautifully, lyrically told, with the power and strength of the change making generations and their leaders in start contrast to the forces of oppression.

I read a free ARC from Netgalley, without being paid for a review. And after this book comes out, I plan to add it to my home library.

[BiblioBickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly readable "work of creative nonfiction told in five story-poems - flash lines of verse, prose, and quotes - anchored in historical facts" following the "significant events" in 5 Black historical figures' lives from 1773-2008 "that show how they tilted the country's moral arc toward liberty, freedom, and justice" (quotes from the preface by the author). While the stories contain snippets of hard history, they focus on the resistance and perseverance of the people to continue working "toward a more perfect union" where there is social and racial justice.

All chapters/story-poems are made up of many individual poems, most labeled with a place and date, and all titled. The individual poems are impressionistic, and many have a rhythm that would work well when read aloud. They are peppered with italicized quotes from primary sources. The five chapters are bookended by poems "Did You Even Wonder?" and "The Long Time" (labeled as an Epilogue). Back matter includes a timeline from 1775-2008, "History Clips" listing internet resources to primary sources, and "Further Reading" providing age-appropriate suggestions on the topics of "Enslavement and Emancipation," "Freedom and Justice," and "The Promise of America." There is also an extensive Bibliography and Source Notes section listing primary and secondary sources used as well as the sources of the italicized quotes for each chapter as well as a comprehensive index.

Given the people's life experiences, there is mention of rape, beatings, lynching and other murder, alcohol and cannabis use, and extra-marital affairs. Two quotes contain profanity: one from President Lyndon B. Johnson ["What is that g*dd***ed n*****r preacher doing to me?"] and one from Barack Obama's white grandfather ["Should be one h*ll of a Christmas"].

[Virginia McGee Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ray Anthony Shepard introduces his book, A Long Time Coming, to the reader as “five story-poems . . . anchored in historical facts.” In beautiful verse, he tells the story of race through vignettes of the lives of six people who moved America closer to its ideal of freedom and justice for all. In Part I (1773-1913), he cites Ona Judge, Frederick Douglass, and Harriet Tubman for their leaving enslavement behind and moving toward emancipation. Part II recounts the efforts of Ida B. Wells and Martin Luther King, Jr. in seeking freedom and justice, and Part III looks at the promise of America as seen in Barack Obama. The accounts are separate, yet connected, much like cars on a figurative train of the underground railroad. Shepard’s title sets the stage for a united nation that has been a long time coming. He adds little know details along with common knowledge about each of these influencers. His conclusion is hopeful but acknowledges that we’re not there yet.

Back matter includes author notes that give insight into Shepard’s personal connection with his subject as well as scholarly annotations, an index, and source notes.

Illustrator R. Gregory Christie causes the reader to pause and wonder as he captures both place and character in his pictures. The book is listed at seventh to ninth grade level but people of any age with a love of lyrically told history will enjoy the book, and those who love art will appreciate the illustrations. Both author and illustrator have won honors in the writing world for previous books. I expect this one will get the same kind of acclaim.

[Maranda Barry · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I liked the uniqueness of highlighting 6 key Black historic figures through both verse writing and historical facts, sometimes in their own words, worked well. The depth of information about each person was educational and engaging.

The weakest point, for me, was the lack of lyrical movement in the verse/formatting. It was sometimes hard to follow the flow and discern the intention behind the organization.

The look at these people intermixed with historical implications and a broader look at the progress-or lack thereof- through time was eye opening.

Overall: 4.5 stars

I'll tell my students about: alcohol, language, sex, drugs, trauma/death, violence

**Thank you to NetGalley and Astra Publishing House for the free ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This plain spoken book covers a lot of ground. Lean and precise, it calls out injustice with out being caustic - which given the brutal circumstances and death tole - is a delicate dance of language.
Ray Anthony Shepard has gifted us with a factual framework for study and discussion that I would love to see in every school library and every board's curriculum.
It is a starting point in sharing factual accounts of times passed that aims to celebrate and acknowledge. It is also a wonderful story about difficult things, truthfully told.
I was immensely pleased to find this on the shelves at my local library. I feel better just knowing that it exists.
Who could object to this positive lyrical history? Do we not trust our own young people to know their own history and the country we share a continent with?

[Linda Spear · Rating 4 out of 5]

I happened to be at the Kent (OH) Public Library around Juneteenth and picked this book up from a display just on a whim. I had not read any reviews or even seen it advertised so I was in for a surprise. Most of the people written about were very familiar to me except for Ona Judge, but even for the people I had read about or whose experiences I have witnessed, there were new facts and events. And I didn't even realize until I finished that this book is intended for a YA audience. Because it's written in a "prose/poetry" style, these stories are very readable and would be informative as well as disturbing to that audience. Since the 1964 Black History Week grew into Black History Month, I assume this age group would be aware of many people in this book.

Obviously, I praise this book highly.

[Libriar · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This is a tough one for me to rate. It's an ambitious book highlighting people with expansive contributions to US history. To reduce each to a chapter in lyrical verse means much is left out. The chapter that worked the best for me was on Ida B. Wells because I knew the least about her. Because I've read whole books on the others, I felt so much was missing. This could serve as an excellent starting point in a class but I don't know how many teens would pick this up on their own. (I read an e-galley of this book and I am sure the formatting was very different from the final formatting in the print version. I think the formatting greatly impacted my reading of this poetic biography as it didn't flow the way it was meant to flow. ) ARC courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley.

[Sally Kruger]

The complete title of this combined biography is A LONG TIME COMING: A Lyrical Biography of Race in American from Ona Judge to Barack Obama. Author Ray Anthony Shepard uses verse to highlight the lives of Ona Judge, Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack Obama. Scattered art by R. Gregory Christie is included.

Readers are taken through a history of race in America that includes well-known facts about these brave Americans as well as little known tidbits that illustrate their courageous efforts to establish true freedom and rights for a population still fighting this battle today.

A LONG TIME COMING is the perfect complement for history classes, history buffs, and anyone interested in learning about slavery through the present time.

[Kristen M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

The imagination of artists, writers, and creators continues to amaze and astound me. These creative people take original content and remix and reshape it into something new and profound. Last year I read 'Nearer My Freedom' about Olaudah Equiano, a nonfiction 'found verse' auto-biography compiled from the writings of this real historical person, mashed up into something new by present day writers. It was fantastic.

This author does something similar with this title - a unique collective biography of historical figures of the past, all the way up to present day Barack Obama - wait for it - written in verse! The author has managed to make this dramatization of documented history indisputably poetic!

The author chronicles George Washington's enslaved woman Ona Judge, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Ida B. Wells Barnett, and Barack Obama. He weaves their stories together in a new and interesting way. It reminds me of the buzz surrounding Brian Selznick's 'The Invention of Hugo Cabret' when it swept the Caledecott awards in 2008.

Bravo! I look forward to more remixes and mashups in the future from this author and others who choose to attempt the same.

[Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ray Anthony Shepard provides young readers with a Black history book that is creative, accessible, and educational. In A Long Time Coming, Shepard tells the story of five important Black figures, including Barack Obama, Martin Luther King, Jr., Ida B. Wells, Ona Judge, Frederick Douglass and Harriet Tubman, in a mash-up of verse, prose, poems, and quotes from historical accounts.

This is a fast-paced read that is full of historical information that young people, adults, and especially educators would benefit from reading and using in the classroom.

Thank you to the author and publisher for the e-arc copy!

[Patricia Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this book goes in my top tier of best books read. I couldn’t wait to find time to read it, and didn’t want to stop until each story concluded. The author had lovely transitions, connecting the former to the current in a way that continued to pull you forward. The timeline is easy to follow, with date and location noted before each verse narrative. It evokes so many emotions: joy, anger, sadness and hope.
The book should be in the hands of everyone over the age of 16. There are facts told lyrically that I never knew. The details enhanced each story, painting an in depth picture of each person’s impact on our country and helping us to get to where we are today.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

The weaving of the narratives which works chronologically to pass the baton from one biography to the next to demonstrate the progression and regression of race in America uses a verse novel format with a split page and it invites curiosity while being the lyrical storytelling it explains in the subtitle. My only hang up was the introduction simultaneously of Douglass and Tubman that went back and forth though understandable in the way it was laid out.

Verse is powerful and with the subject matter its doubly-important to stop and think about the word choice and history being told.

[South Brunswick High School Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beginning with Ona Judge, a slave owned by Martha Washington who escaped to freedom in New England, continuing through famous Black Americans Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglas, and Martin Luther King, and ending with the election of Barack Obama, this collection of poems tells the stories of the Black Americans who overcame slavery, oppression, and Jim Crow to improve equality. Readers will find a well-researched account of each Americans obstacles, challenges, success, and set backs that can start to fill some of the holes in our history curriculum.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

An unflinching view of race in America's history, from Ona Judge (an enslaved woman in the household of George and Martha Washington) to Barack Obama (the first black President of the United States), told in a series of biographies that are written in verse. I took my time with this book, reflecting on how much and how little this country has changed in its views of race. This was such an incredible, thoughtful read.

[Amanda Shepard (Between-the-Shelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biography in verse that follows 6 different people throughout the course of America, focusing on race. I enjoyed the way this was presented, as it felt accessible and included a lot of information. The timeline aspect I thought was really handy, especially all of the information provided at the end of the book. I could definitely see this being used in history classrooms, as it would be a text that could supplement various parts of American history.

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like stories in verse, this is a good one to try in the non fiction realm. The author tells the story of Ona Judge, Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, Ida. B. Wells, Martin Luther King Jr. and Barack Obama. This style allows to show more of the feelings and not be so fact oriented. While labeled as YA...anyone who just wants a brief insight into these important historical characters will enjoy reading.

[Julie Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful poetry, unflinching portrayal of the struggle. The Ida B Wells part was especially difficult to read (graphic, lynching, reports of violence usually unspeakable and here told). The poetry is complex and beautiful; not an easy read. Serious 8th graders, high school students, and adults who are interested in history, social change, poetry, or even just a good story will love this and learn much from it. It's now one of my favorites.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

this is a necessary book about the history of black people having the right to be free members of society. they've had to endure way too much atrocious behavior from those who held power over law and society. white people decided that black people were beneath them and treated them as if they were less than human. it makes me sick to think that anyone would treat their fellow human beings that horribly for wanting freedom and better Living conditions.

[Holly L'Heureux · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a giveaway at the ALA conference in Chicago.
This was a very digestible way to see history. That is the first thing I think when I remember this book. Learning about some of the most important people in Black history through prose was a very new idea but it worked so well. This book opened my eyes to new ways to encourage younger kids to read about history!

[Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A biography in verse about Ona Judge, Frederick Douglass, Harriett Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Martin Luther King Jr., and Barack Obama.

This is unlike any nonfiction I've read before. I was blown away with how cleverly language was used at several points. I haven't looked at page counts but it felt like some of the people were covered more than others.

[Erikka · Rating 4 out of 5]

This would be an excellent read-along with Stamped From the Beginning, as it’s a nice summation of the lives of several figures in Black history, basically as a relay as their lives impact each other. I loved the writing and how it brought these figures to life. It also showed how much history has happened in such a short window of time, relatively. Generational history is fascinating.

[Ellen Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - I know this is YA, but I really enjoyed the lyrical style of writing and the way the stories blended into each other. I also think this book helps to remind the reader that Ona Judge’s story is not as far removed from Barack Obama’s story as we would hope. I also really liked the illustrations.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read for university book review. Enlightened me to those who fraught the early race battles such as Ona Judge, Fredrick Douglass, Harriet Tubman and Ida Q Wells, in addition to those I was more familiar with such as MLK and President Obama. The lyrical format helped made this an enjoyable read even though it is a hard topic.

[Holly Walling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot in a short amount of time reading this book. Appreciated the primary sources used, and found it to be a great little history. Docked a point because I’m wondering if I really like books that don’t need to be poetic in verse anymore, they’re springing up a lot. I don’t know that it was necessary here.