Lullaby For a Black Mother

With text from Langston Hughes’ poem “Lullaby (For a Black Mother)”, Sean Qualls illustrated his vision of Hughes’ words, dedicating the book to his wife. Hughes’ poem is simple and sweet with specific emphasis on a "dark baby". I’m guessing his poem is one of the first/few lullabies

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specifically for a black family. Quall’s illustrations are modern simple. Hughes’ words of stars and moon provided easy art themes. While the poem is sweet, the book and the simplistic artwork lacks punch. It’s still a worthy breezy read for Hughes’ fans.

In “A Note about the Poet”, we learn Hughes had grown up lonely; his single mom provided for them through menial jobs. My favorite passages:

“…Whenever his mother did come home, she and Langston would go to the library. Langston loved the way it smelled, its smooth wood tables, and especially its books. Books took Langston’s blues away. They even gave him a dream: to become a poet…

’The Dream Keeper and Other Poems’, published in 1932, included ‘Lullaby (For a Black Mother).’ In this collection, Langston wrote of the moon and the rain, rivers and fairies. He wrote of maple-sugar children in sugar houses and boys who carry ‘beauties in their hearts.’ He wrote of the night and stars. And he wrote of dreams. Langston was a dream keeper, and poems were his way to wrap dreams up in a soft blanket and keep them safe.

‘Lullaby (For a Black Mother)’ was written when Langston was a young man. Its sweet, lulling rhythm celebrates a bedtime ritual and the bond between a mother and child. Langston wrote poems for everyone. But perhaps he wrote this lullaby as a comfort to the lonely boy he had been.”

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