Here at Westminster Kids, we’ve talked about the importance of Christian biographies. These true stories of heroes in the faith serve to shape the desires and dreams of young people. They set forth powerful examples of trust in God and obedience to his will, and paint a compelling vision of the Christian life.
Since February is Black History Month, we wanted to highlight the stories of some incredible Black men and women who have served God and powerfully shaped history. From read-alouds to reads for teens (and parents), here are some titles to add to your shelves.
For Young Readers (Ages 4-7)
African Heroes
Jordan and Jasmine's dad loves history and is always telling them stories about the past. One day when their family is out on a picnic, they start asking if there were any Christians who looked like them who God had used to help the church grow. They are excited when their dad shares inspiring true stories of 11 early Christian leaders-from Africa who helped to grow the early church in remarkable and significant ways. (Click to View Product)
Maria Fearing: The Girl Who Dreamed of Distant Lands (Do Great Things for God)
Once freed from slavery on an Alabama plantation, Maria Fearing went to Africa to show children Jesus' compassion and protect them from being sold into slavery. She even helped translate the Bible so that the children could read it in their own language. Her patience and grit in overcoming incredible obstacles to heed God's call make her a great role model for young children. (Click to View Product)
Betsey Stockton: The Girl with a Missionary Dream (Do Great Things for God)
When young Betsey joined a missionary voyage to Hawaii, everyone was shocked. "A single woman, who was born enslaved, going to mission? How extraordinary!" But that's exactly who Betsey was--an extraordinary girl who believed in an extraordinary God! Follow her adventurous five-month journey across the Pacific Ocean. A journey that would take her to the shores of beautiful Hawaii, where she would finally be able to do what she'd always dreamt of--be a missionary. (Click to View Product)
Fannie Lou Hamer: The Courageous Woman Who Marched for Dignity (Do Great Things for God)
Living in Mississippi, "Mother Hamer" left school at six and was subjected to the racist "Jim Crow" laws. She and her friends marched for the right to vote and became known as "the Freedom Fighters." Fannie was imprisoned and beaten but eventually was able to speak to the Houses of Congress in Washington, D.C. Having won the vote, Mother Hamer helped bring people out of poverty and stood up for the right of unborn children to be born and to be loved. (Click to View Product)
For Middle Graders (Ages 8-12)
Phillis Weatley (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)
No one could have imagined that the frail, enslaved, seven-year-old girl who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1761 would become the first published African American, achieving fame for her poetry in both America and England. Phillis published her first poem in 1767 when she was thirteen and a book of poetry in 1773. Through Phillis's story, young readers will learn the importance of trusting God's plan while standing up for justice and the good of other human beings. (Click to View Product)
Carved in Ebony (Young Reader's Edition)
Learn the stories of women whose names may not be familiar to you, but who lived faithful and influential lives in a world that was filled with injustice. They worked to change laws, built schools, spoke to thousands, and shared the Gospel all around the world. And while history books may have forgotten them, their stories can teach us so much about how we can live today. (Click to View Product)
Olaudah Equiano: A Man of Many Names (Trail Blazers)
Though kidnapped into slavery at ten years old, Oladuah eventually grew up and obtained his freedom. He claimed back his name in order to write his own memoir as part of the fight against slavery. Oladuah Equiano may have been a child who lost everything, even his name - but he came to know the joy of forgiveness in Christ. (Click to View Product)
Byang Kato (Christian Biographies for Young Readers)
Byang Kato grew up in Nigeria in a family devoted to juju, a religion of magic and superstition. Although from a young age he planned to become a juju priest, his encounter with missionaries and the gospel changed that. In this book, Simonetta Carr tells how the young, eager Byang devoted himself to learning about Jesus and sharing Him with others. Through Byang Kato's leadership, many people in Africa and on other continents have learned to find their true identity in Christ. (Click to View Product)
For Teens and Parents
Carved in Ebony
Elizabeth Freeman, Nannie Helen Burroughs, Maria Fearing, Charlotte Forten Grimké, Sarah Mapps Douglass, Sara Griffith Stanley, Amanda Berry Smith, Lucy Craft Laney, Maria Stewart, and Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. While history books may have forgotten them, their stories can teach us so much about what it means to be modern women of faith. Be inspired by what each of these exceptional women can teach us about the intersections of faith and education, birth, privilege, opportunity, and so much more. (Click to View Product)
Let Slavery Die: The Life of Henry Highland Garnet and His 1865 Discourse Before the House of Representatives
Henry Highland Garnet, Presbyterian minister and a strong voice for the abolition of slavery, was the first African American to preach before the U. S. House of Representatives, on February 12, 1865, to celebrate Congress’ passage of the 13th Amendment. This book contains a narrative of his life up to that point, and the discourse he delivered.(Click to View Product)
Nearer My Freedom: The Interesting Life of Olaudah Equiano by Himself
Millions of Africans were enslaved during the transatlantic slave trade, but few recorded their personal experiences. Olaudah Equiano's The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano is perhaps the most well known of the autobiographies that exist. Using this narrative as a primary source text, authors Monica Edinger and Lesley Younge share Equiano's life story in "found verse," supplemented with annotations to give readers historical context. (Click to read Redeemed Reader Review)
