Library Committee: Book Review
Forgotten Founders, by Mifflin Lowe with Illustrations by William Luong
Submitted by the Library Committee
This February, the Library is featuring a display for African American History Month along the theme: Black History is American History.
Thanks to African American History month, heroic Black people like Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass and Martin Luther King, are well known. You may even know about Crispus Atticus who was the first Black man to die for the patriots' cause during the American Revolution.
To learn more about the contributions of Black people from America’s beginning, check out Forgotten Founders by Mifflin Lowe with Illustrations by William Luong. Everyone with any interest in American history should read this collection of short biographies written for readers from 3rd or 4th grade on. Parents, this is an excellent history book to read with your children on this 250th anniversary of America.
Following are a few of many highlights in the book:
Salem Poor was born into slavery. After he purchased his freedom he joined the Patriots' fight for American independence. In 1976, this hero was honored with a postage stamp during the U.S. Biennial year.
Edward “Ned” Hector was born a free man, and then enlisted as a bombardier and wagoner. When his regiment was order to retreat, he refused to abandon his horses. Heroically he saved the horses, weapons, and his wagon. In 1850 a street was named after him and in 1976 a historic plaque was place in his name in his home town.
Phyllis Wheatley was born into slavery and was purchased as a child to a man who allowed her to learn to read and write. She could read and write in English, Greek and Latin. She wrote her first poem at 14 and published a book of poems in 1773.
