You Come from Greatness
A young boy learns that he is walking in the footsteps of greatness through a vibrant, lyrical retelling of Black history—both a love letter to Black children and an anthem empowering them to know their God-given worth.
“A reminder to Black children that they are capable of greatness.”—Kirkus Reviews
You came bustling into the world,
a mighty bundle of energy, ready to do great things.
And no wonder.
You stand on the shoulders of those who came before,
and you, too, were born to shine.
Starting with his birth, the boy’s father lays out the history of his son’s ancestry: from the love and warmth of a big family, to the change makers and status shakers, the inventors and engineers, the astronomers, philosophers, and storytellers, the leaders and the doctors. The father details the legacy and impact of Black ancestors whose determination, strength, dedication, creativity, and leadership contributed to making the world better.
Throughout the story, the boy discovers the rich heritage of those that have gone before him and learns how he embodies that same greatness. He, too, has the power to change the world by embracing exactly who God made him to be.
You Come from Greatness includes illustrations of Black historical figures such as Wangari Muta Maathai, Ellie Mannette, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, and more, with twenty short biographies at the end of the book.
An Excerpt fromYou Come from Greatness
You came bustling into the world,
a mighty bundle of energy, ready to do great things.
And no wonder—you stand on the shoulders
of those who came before, and you, too, were BORN TO SHINE.
You come from laughter and love.
From a big family—by way of the bayou—who ate
crawdads at the crab boil after Sunday service.
From a mother who’s as warm as a brassy African sunset
and a father whose emboldened strength lies
just beneath his tender heart.
And you?
You embody a spirit that soars with delight over
new possibilities. You can go anywhere.
YOU CAN BE ANYTHING.