As a white person, it’s easy to take for granted the work people of colour have done and their impact on the world as we know it. Perhaps some of us avoid the topic of civil rights completely because we’ve never felt like it applies to us. Perhaps some of us are ashamed of how little we know of the struggles of POCs.
It’s never too late to learn. In her new book Iconic People of Colour, Surrey-based student Elizabeth Ajao explores the lives of 38 men and women who have overcome racial obstacles and made their mark indelibly on human history.
It’s a pocket-sized volume with four pages per person featuring beautiful sketch-style illustrations by Phil Shaw. Each section lists the person, their date of birth (and date of death if applicable), a short summary of who they are, a two-page overview of their “incredible story”, some bullet points on facts and achievements, and even an inspirational quote.
We meet everyone from politicians to LGBT and civil rights activists, to artists, to athletes, to authors and scientists. Most of these figures are mixed race, their roots Latinx, West Indian, African-American, Native American, Far Eastern, Middle Eastern, Indian, Polynesian and more.
It’s also a half and half mixture of dead icons and those still living. After all, what’s the point of looking at how POCs have affected the past and present without exploring those who are changing our future?
There are a few more women than men listed, which is important to note. We need to recognise that we live in a patriarchal society where women of colour have been oppressed far more than their male counterparts.
Naturally, there were a few surprising omissions; Rosa Parks, Oprah Winfrey, Alice Walker, Zora Neale Hurston, James Baldwin, Thurgood Marshall, Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Venus and Serena Williams, Usain Bolt to name but a few… But, frankly, we could go on and on and one can see that the author has tried to include lesser known POCs in the stead of those more famous.
So while Venus and Serena Williams have been missed, Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka, Maria Tallchief and Marcus Rashford have not. While Rosa Parks and James Baldwin do not appear, Ruby Bridges and Sylvia Rivera do.
If you’re not one for the complex ins and outs of politics and history but still want to get clued up on a subject you’ve never put much effort into before, Iconic People of Colour is probably a great starting point.
On the other hand, it feels very much like a beginners’ handbook on people of colour for white people. It’s a little patronising in parts, and is perhaps more suited to a younger audience. Even the description of these various people as “superheroes” feels flippant and juvenile, especially considering that a great many of these people were regular people working hard and doing what they thought was the right thing. Yes, they’re remarkable people, but they’re remarkable because of what they’ve accomplished as ordinary humans - not as superheroes.
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On the whole, it’s a nicely laid-out book that should be handed out to middle school students everywhere. It’s undaunting and educational, and the iconic quotes are a great addition, but there’s very little depth to the rest of it. Still, there’s a “Further reading” list at the back which attempts to combat this issue, though again it’s been kept undauntingly short which is great for the dabbler, and not so much the serious researcher.
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