Claudette Colvin and how to make change at any age -- Benjamin Banneker and how to never shrink yourself -- Ida B. Wells and why true strength means being vulnerable -- Zora Neale Hurston and how to embrace your complex identity -- Gordon Parks and when it's time to take a risk -- Ledger Smith and how to find confidence in nerve-racking moments -- Tommie Smith and how to know who's on your team -- Cicely Tyson and why good representation changes lives -- Maya Angelou and why your energy is never too much -- Patrick Kelly and how rejection can become redirection -- Marsha P. Johnson and why anger is not an enemy -- Mae Jemison and how dreaming big will help you reach the stars

"With sparkling wit and humor-and lots of fun pop culture references-digital content creator Taylor Cassidy (creator of TikTok sensation "Fast Black History") takes readers on a journey through the Black history that she wishes she was taught in school. Weaving together research and personal anecdotes that illuminate each trailblazer's impact on her own life, Taylor paints a vibrant picture of twelve figures from Black history whose groundbreaking contributions shaped America as we know it today. From activists like Claudette Colvin and Marsha P. Johnson to literary giants Zora Neale Hurston and Maya Angelou, fashion designer Patrick Kelly, Olympic Gold medalist Tommie Smith, and more, this one-of-a-kind collection makes Black history relatable, relevant, and inspiring, so modern readers can recognize themselves within its pages. By the end, you'll want to proudly proclaim: "Black history is my history!""--

Ages 12 up