Let Us March On! James Weldon Johnson and the Silent Protest Parade

A “man of words” envisions a silent demonstration in this moving account of the Silent Protest Parade, a 1917 Manhattan civil rights march. In free verse that creates a rhythmic tug, a third-person narrative introduces lawyer and poet James Weldon Johnson (1871–1938), whose “Lift Every Voice and Sing” became known as the Black national anthem. Early lines explain that “white people had long hurt Black people,” and how increased attacks—further discussed in back matter—led Johnson to call for a march in New York City: “A big protest/ on the biggest avenue/ in the biggest city/ in the country,” featuring “just serious,/ somber/ silence.” Explaining that silence can sometimes be more powerful than words, he conceives an idea that results in a march of 10,000, including hundreds of silent children alongside adults, all protesting the hatred and violence. Crisp prose from Williams and Long is matched by Gordon’s high-contrast digital illustrations in browns, oranges, and yellows, which mimic chalk and monoprint textures. An authors’ note provides further context. Ages 4–8. (May)