Hair Like Obama's, Hands Like LeBron's by sales-abramsbooks

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Written by Coretta Scott King Award Winner Carole Boston Weatherford Illustrated by Savanna Durr

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

In memory of my father, Joseph A. Boston, Jr., who printed my early poems on the letterpress in his classroom —C.B.W.

To my little brother, Trey, who always encouraged me to reach for more —S.D.

Notes

“I want to know”: F. Erik Brooks, Glenn L. Starks, African Americans and the Presidents: Politics and Policies from Washington to Trump (ABC-CLIO, 2019), 256.

“That was a pretty big highlight”: Virginia Chamlee, “Barack Obama Reunites with Boy from Viral ‘Hair Like Mine’ Photo,” People (May 27, 2022). people.com/politics/barack-obamareconnects-with-boy-from-viral-hair-like-mine-photo.

Cataloging-in-Publication Data has been applied for and may be obtained from the Library of Congress.

ISBN 978-1-4197-7148-4

Official White House Photo by Pete Souza courtesy Barack Obama Presidential Library Book design by Melissa Nelson Greenberg

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Published in 2024 by Abrams Appleseed, an imprint of ABRAMS. All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, mechanical, electronic, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher.

Abrams Appleseed® is a registered trademark of Harry N. Abrams, Inc.

Printed and bound in China 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

For bulk discount inquiries, contact specialsales@abramsbooks.com.

Written by Coretta Scott King Award–Winner

Carole Boston Weatherford

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

Illustrated by Savanna Durr

Abrams Appleseed | New York

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

I have hair like Obama’s

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and hands like LeBron’s.

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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

My mind is more magical than “Ice” McDonald’s wands.

I think up inventions just like the real McCoy and legend Lonnie Johnson behind the Super Soaker toy.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

My dreams, bold as King’s, light sparks in my eyes

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and blast off like Bluford, powered by whys.

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My heart drums like Colin’s— warrior on the battlefield.

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I have a core like Crump and Marshall, with conscience as my shield.

I have fists as strong as Tommie Smith’s to raise for what is true.

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I fight for right like Kaepernick; Black pride through and through.

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My voice is my instrument like Trane’s sax and Bootsy’s bass.

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I have feet like “Lightning” Bolt’s; I was born to run this race.

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This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

My legs, like Michael Jordan’s, shatter records with a leap.

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My soul is kissed by Africa— the future’s mine to keep.

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If you can see it, you can be it.

Representation matters is more than a hashtag. In January 2009, Barack Obama took office as the first African American to serve as President of the United States. His presidency showed children of color that they, too, could aspire to the highest office of the land.

Five-year-old Jacob Philadelphia was wide-eyed when he visited the White House on May 8, 2009, with his parents. The family was there for a departure photograph on his father’s last day working for the National Security Council.

Once in the Oval Office with Obama, Jacob set his sights high. His gaze landed on the forty-fourth president’s head. “I want to know if your hair is like mine,” said Jacob, recalling that his friends had said his haircut resembled Obama’s.

“Why don’t you touch it,” asked the president, “and see for yourself?”

Then, the six-foot, two-inch world leader lowered his head so the boy could reach. “Yeah, that’s pretty much what I’ve got,” Jacob said of Obama’s hair texture.

White House photographer Pete Souza captured the moment and titled the now-iconic photo Hair Like Mine. Of the many photographs taken during the Obama presidency, it was the only one that was never swapped in and out. It remained on display.

First Lady Michelle Obama later said that the photo symbolized the progress made by the civil rights movement.

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In 2022, when Jacob graduated from high school, the former president congratulated him via Zoom.

Today, Jacob remembers Obama towering over him and, of course, he remembers touching the president’s hair. “That was a pretty big highlight of my life,” said Jacob. “If I get to see another Black man be at the top, be at that pinnacle,” Jacob added, “then I want to follow that lead.”

My poem extends the association to the character traits, physical attributes, and contributions of other accomplished African American men, encouraging young people to use their gifts to reach their potential.

Do you

see

yourself in the role models in this book? Dare to dream big!

More About the Famous People in This Book

Guion Bluford (1942–) is a retired astronaut and aerospace engineer, the first African American to travel to space. His 1983 voyage on the space shuttle Challenger advanced the field of space exploration. Bluford’s stellar achievements and his dedication to science and exploration have inspired future generations to reach for the stars.

Usain “Lightning” Bolt (1986–) is a Jamaican sprinter who won eight Olympic gold records. Widely regarded as the fastest man in the world, he set numerous world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter races. Bolt’s speed, charisma, and showmanship on the track won fans the world over.

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William “Bootsy” Collins (1951–) a bassist and singer who was one of the founding fathers of funk music, gained fame as a member of ParliamentFunkadelic. He later formed his own band, Bootsy’s Rubber Band. Collins’s funky bass lines and flashy costumes made him an international icon.

John “Trane” Coltrane (1926–1967) was a legendary jazz saxophonist and composer. His innovative improvisation and complex compositions pushed the boundaries of jazz music. Among his best-known recordings is A Love Supreme, which merged his musical devotion and his faith.

Benjamin Crump (1969–) is an attorney who fights tirelessly for civil rights. He is best known for representing the families of Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Henrietta Lacks, and other victims of racial profiling and police brutality. His work exposes inequalities and inspires others to stand up for justice.

LeBron James (1984–) is a professional basketball player famous for his exceptional skills and his oncourt leadership. Known as “King James,” he has won multiple NBA championships and is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. An activist and a philanthropist, James founded a charter school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.

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Lonnie Johnson (1949–) is a mechanical and nuclear engineer and inventor best known for inventing the Super Soaker toy water gun in 1982. With greater power, range, and accuracy than old-timey squirt pistols, the Super Soaker revolutionized outdoor water play. The toy has brought joy to millions around the world and interested countless children in STEM fields.

Michael Jordan (1963–) is hailed as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Known for his incredible skills and competitive spirit, Jordan won six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. In 2009, he was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Colin Kaepernick (1987–) is a professional football player who waged peaceful protests against racial injustice. To raise awareness about police brutality and systemic racism, Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem before NFL games. His bold stance sparked a nationwide conversation about athletes, activism, and social justice.

Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) was a civil rights leader who advocated for equality, justice, and nonviolent protests to end racial segregation and inequalities. A Baptist preacher, King emerged as a leader during the Montgomery Bus Boycott and gained national prominence when he spoke at the 1963 March on Washington. His powerful speeches and visionary leadership mobilized millions in the 1960s and continue to inspire freedom fighters today.

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Thurgood Marshall (1908–1993) was a trailblazing civil rights attorney who led the Legal Defense and Educational Fund of the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People). He is well-known for arguing the landmark Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka school desegregation case. Marshall went on to become the first African American to serve as a United States solicitor general and as a Supreme Court justice.

Elijah McCoy (1844–1929) was an engineer and one of the most successful African American inventors of his time. His pioneering work in developing automatic lubrication systems for steam engines earned his invention the nickname “the real McCoy.” His inventions and contributions enhanced the efficiency of machinery.

Kenrick “Ice” McDonald (1960–) is a Hall of Fame master magician who wows audiences with mind-bending illusions. He has won numerous awards for his sleight of hand. In 2014, he became the first African American president of the Society of American Magicians.

Barack Obama (1961–) was the forty-fourth president of the United States and the first African American to hold that office. Born in Hawai‘i, he was elected president in 2008 and served from 2009 to 2017. A former U.S. senator, Illinois state legislator, and law professor, he was also the first Black president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review. Obama continues to support My Brother’s Keeper, an initiative he began as president, to help young men of color reach their potential.

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Colin Powell (1937–2021) was a military leader during the Gulf War and a statesman who played a crucial role in shaping foreign policy. In the U.S. Army, Powell rose to the rank of general. He later became the first African American appointed as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and as secretary of state.

Tommie Smith (1944–) is a track-and-field athlete who made history with a single act of protest. At the 1968 Olympics, he won a gold medal in the 200-meter race. Afterward, during the medal ceremony, he and his teammate John Carlos raised their fists in a Black power salute to show solidarity with civil rights and human rights struggles. He has won many accolades for his contributions to social justice and humanitarian causes.

This is an advance, uncorrected proof. Not for resale, duplication, or reposting. Please do not quote without comparison to the finished book.

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