The black oak is a strong and mighty tree that possesses great inner and outer beauty, much like the subjects Harold Green III writes about in Black Oak: Odes Celebrating Powerful Black Men. As an artist, storyteller, and poet, Green has composed forty odes to influential Black male role models. These individuals include athletes, performers, artists, writers, teachers, pastors, and others who have excelled in their chosen fields and are revered in the community. Most of the world already knows Lebron James, Colin Kaepernick, Billy Porter, and John Legend, but Green also immortalizes other powerful Black men, including his father and grandfather. Each ode is accompanied by an illustration by painter and activist Melissa Koby.
As a white male reviewer, I was deeply inspired and touched by the collection of poems dedicated to Black excellence. It was humbling to learn more about these heroes. It is obvious that Green loved and looked up to each of his subjects. The poet has a way with expressing his adulation, echoing our collective sentiments about Black men who bring people together through their talent and craft. The faceless illustrations, just like each work, encourage the reader to look past the surface and find themselves in each piece. This is a wonderful celebration of brave-hearted leaders, champions, dreamers, guardians, and humanitarians.
Black Oak: Odes Celebrating Powerful Black Men
