The Undefeated

 Bibliography
Alexander, K. & Nelson, K. (2019). The undefeated. Boston: Versify, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Plot Summary
This poem was written for the world as a love letter to Black history and Black excellence. It highlights those well-known and possibly those not so well-known with allusions to famous works tied in. 

 

Critical Analysis
This book is rich in Black history and excellence. There are literary allusions galore such as poetry from Langston Hughes - “The audacious ones/who carried the ed, white, and Weary Blues” and Gwendolyn Brooks - “The We Real Cool ones.” In addition to the allusions to literature, the language within the poem is breathtaking. For example, “This is for the unflappable. The sophisticated ones who box adversity and tackle vision.” An image of Jack Johnson, the first Black heavyweight boxing champion, is attached to this part of the poem. 

Absolutely stunning illustrations of these historic figures are provided by Kadir Nelson. The shattered pictures of the four children in the church basement is one that holds a lot of power, as well as the memorial for all of the lives lost due to police brutality. One page holds no images as it mourns those that did not survive America “by any means necessary.” 

While it might be difficult to discern who is who without previous background knowledge, the back of the book provides a Historical Figures and Events glossary to help fill in the gaps. The Afterword is also noteworthy as Alexander explains the history of this poem, beginning in 2008 with the birth of his second daughter. 

Review Excerpt(s)
Caldecott Medal (2020)

Coretta Scott King Book Award for Illustrator (2020)

Newbery Medal Nominee (2020)

National Book Award Nominee for Young People's Literature (2019)

Kirkus Prize Nominee for Young Readers' Literature (2019)

An incredible connector text for young readers eager to graduate to weighty conversations about our yesterday, our now, and our tomorrow. - Kirkus Reviews

Connections 
-Activities 

• This book can be used as an introduction to Black History Month as it showcases important people and events. In the library or classroom, take the events and people and create a timeline and have students complete a gallery walk. 
• Using the book and the glossary, have students complete a research project over an important person or event mentioned in the book. Explain their contribution to Black History. This could then turn into an interactive timeline around the school/library/classroom. 
• Students will complete a scavenger hunt over the different textual allusions made in the poem (Weary Blues by Langston Hughes, We Real Cool by Gwendolyn Brooks, etc.)  
• Critical Thinking: Explain why the author/illustrator decided to leave the page blank on the part of the poem that says, “And the ones who didn’t.” Who could the author be referring to? 
• This book has historical figures in it. Have students look up current prolific Black people - (Kobe Bryant, Simone Biles, Barack Obama, Kamala Harris, Mari Copeny, Amanda Gorman, etc.) and their influence on Black excellence/history.