The Undefeated

Winner of the 2020 Caldecott Medal
A 2020 Newbery Honor Book
Winner of the 2020 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award

The Newbery Award-winning author of THE CROSSOVER pens an ode to black American triumph and tribulation, with art from a two-time Caldecott Honoree.
Originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this poem is a love letter to black life in the United States. It highlights the unspeakable trauma of slavery, the faith and fire of the civil rights movement, and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world's greatest heroes. The text is also peppered with references to the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others, offering deeper insights into the accomplishments of the past, while bringing stark attention to the endurance and spirit of those surviving and thriving in the present. Robust back matter at the end provides valuable historical context and additional detail for those wishing to learn more.
 

Kwame Alexander is the New York Times Bestselling author of 25 books, including Rebound, the critically acclaimed prequel to the 2015 Newbery Medal-winning The Crossover. The recipient of the 2017 Inaugural Pat Conroy Legacy Award, Kwame lives with his family in Virginia.

www.kwamealexander.com
Twitter: @kwamealexander
Instagram: @kwamealexander

Kadir Nelson is a two-time Caldecott Honor recipient. Among his other awards are an NAACP Image Award, and the 2009 and 2014 Coretta Scott King Author Award. His work has appeared in The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and The New Yorker. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.

www.kadirnelson.com
Twitter: @kadirnelson
Instagram:@kadirnelson