The story of Negro League baseball is the story of gifted athletes and
determined owners; of racial discrimination and international
sportsmanship; of fortunes won and lost; of triumphs and defeats on and
off the field. It is a perfect mirror for the social and political
history of black America in the first half of the twentieth century. But
most of all, the story of the Negro Leagues is about hundreds of unsung
heroes who overcame segregation, hatred, terrible conditions, and low
pay to do the one thing they loved more than anything else in the world:
play ball.
Using an "Everyman" player as his narrator, Kadir Nelson tells the story
of Negro League baseball from its beginnings in the 1920s through its
decline after Jackie Robinson crossed over to the majors in 1947. The
voice is so authentic, you will feel as if you are sitting on dusty
bleachers listening intently to the memories of a man who has known the
great ballplayers of that time and shared their experiences.
We Are the Ship is a tour de force for baseball lovers of all ages.
Winner of the Coretta Scott King Book Award 2009--author award and
illustrator honor; Winner of the Sibert Medal Home Page Award 2009