The Journal of African American Children's Literature
A Historical and Contemporary Analysis of African American Children's Literature
by
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FEELING TOM FEELINGS
Irene E. Owens
"We must give our own story to the world"
Carter G. Woodson
(1933)
Both the writings and illustrations of Tom Feelings have given voice to
the African American story and as such contributed to the philosophical
persuasion of Carter G. Woodson, the designated Father of Black History.
The pilgrimage of Feelings can be summarized through perceptions that
encompass sight, sound, touch, taste, and feeling. Seeing a quote from
Malcolm X as given in Feelings’
Soul Looks Back in Wonder (1993),
describes the manner of this man, "Education is an important element
in the struggle for human rights. It is the means to help our children
and people rediscover their identity and thereby increase self-respect.
Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the
people who prepare for it today" (Feelings, 1993, unpaged). The journey
of Tom Feelings as depicted through his writing reveals a boy, a novice
undisciplined, encased in an art world that was devoid of people who
reflected his color, his consciousness, or his community.
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About the Book
The Journal of African American Children’s Literature (JAACL) is a scholarly journal that focuses on promoting preserving and disseminating information about African American Children’s Literature that is written and illustrated by African Americans. The mission of JAACL is to provide a historical and contemporary analysis of African American Children’s Literature that is innovative, progressive, promotes original research, and transformative in its scholarship.
About the Author
Khafilah Abdel-Malik is Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale where she teaches Language Arts, Children’s Literature and Multicultural Education.