Using Graphic Novels to Learn History
Learning about an important topic can often be a little daunting, for older and younger folks. Sometimes a great way to approach such a topic can be through fiction or graphic novels. It’s the latter we’re focusing on today in honour of Black History Month.
We rounded up a list of graphic novels that feature important people, groups, or moments in history. We know many of these titles are American but the topics raised and the people they talk about are still important ones for Canadian readers to check out. We’d love to hear if you have a graphic novel from a Canadian author that explores Black history in Canada.
Middle Grade
- The Little Rock Nine and the Fight for Equal Education by Gary Jeffrey (Borrow)
- Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott written by Gary Jeffrey and illustrated by Nik Spender (Borrow)
- Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow by James Sturm and Rich Tommaso (Borrow)
- The Courageous Six Triple Eight: The All-Black Female Battalion of World War II written by Dr. Artika R. Tyner and illustrated by Cynthia Paul (Borrow)
Teen and Adult
- Nat Turner written and illustrated by Kyle Baker (Borrow)
- Across the Tracks: Remembering Greenwood, Black Wall Street, and the Tulsa Race Massacre written by Alverne Ball and illustrated by Stacey Robinson (Borrow)
- Showtime at the Apollo written by Ted Fox and illustrated by James Otis Smith (Borrow)
- Tales of the Talented Tenth Vol. 2: Bessie Stringfield written and illustrated by Joel Christian Gill (Borrow)
- Strange Fruit by Joel Christian Gill (Borrow)
- March: Book One written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin and illustrated by Nate Powell (Borrow)
- Hip Hop Family Tree written and illustrated by Ed Piskor (Borrow)
- Big Black: Stand at Attica written by Frank "Big Black" Smith and Jared Reinmuth and illustrated by Améziane (Borrow)