Black Hands, White Sails
Publication Information
Author:  McKissack, Patricia, & McKissack, Frederick	Illustrator:
Title:  Black Hands, White Sails	Date:  1999
Publisher:  Scholastic	City:  New York
ISBN, paperback:  0-590-48313-7	ISBN, hardback:
Recommended audience:
ABE/ABLE:   Yes	ESOL:
Family:	Young Adult:   Yes
Picture:
General Information:
Book Type(s):    nonfiction
HSE Descriptor(s):    social studies| science
Summary:
This book is mostly about the Atlantic whaling industry and the contributions of African American whalers. But it's also about abolition, the Underground Railroad, the Fugitive Slave Act, and the Civil War. And it's about U.S. economics in the 18th and 19 centuries. An appendix about types of whales, a timeline, and an index conclude this fascinating book. (Coretta Scott King Award winner)
Teaching Ideas:
Many excerpts can be used to teach nonfiction comprehension strategies. Map work can accompany the descriptions of expeditions. The Civil War/ abolition connections are worth exploring. Students may want to select a person or issue for further inquiry. Other topics for discussion/ writing may include the economics of whaling, reasons for the abolitionist sentiment in New England seaports, the role of Quakers. Frederick Douglass is mentioned briefly, as is Moby Dick. Point of view study is possible; students may want to take on the perspectives of a variety of characters (e.g., the Quakers, black freedmen, the escaped slave, the captain). The book may promote exploration of why people keep journals.
Keywords: select any link below for a list of resources which also have that keyword
Ethnic Groups > African-American Geography > economics History > region > U.S. history History > topic > war > Civil War > abolition History > topic > war > Civil War > Fugitive Slave Act History > topic > war > Civil War > Underground Railroad Literature and Language > literature > Moby Dick Geography > environment > ocean Work > careers

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