Why We Chose Freedom Over Me

This year’s One State / One Story theme is all about advancing racial equity. It’s impossible to talk about race in the United States of America without talking about the institution of slavery. We chose to focus on the picture book Freedom Over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan for many reasons including the fact that this picture book grew from a primary source document: an appraisement of property that included the names and prices of a number of enslaved people. From that document the author, Coretta Scott King award winner Ashley Bryan, infuses life into each individual name by pairing poetry and artwork, creating a moving and powerful picture book that contrasts the mere list price of a person with the priceless value of life experiences and dreams that a slave owner could never take away. We invite you to explore this book with children of all ages. The accessible language and bold artwork will resonate with young children, while the themes and topics will draw older readers into discussions centered around the humanity of all people who have come to live on this land, whether their ancestors lived here by their own choice or whether they were brought here against their will. There are many ties to the adult selection: All That She Carried: The Journey of Ashley’s Sack, A Black Family Keepsake by Tiya Miles. Both books are based on historical items from the 1800’s. Both books seek to illustrate the unassailable humanity present in people who were captured and brought to this country as slaves. Both books honor the African American spirit and determination that helped shape and still shape our country through innovation, art, music, writing, food and countless other cultural pillars. We hope the following pages will help you launch discussions, programs, activities and events surrounding this compelling title.