The Progress of Our People - A Story of Black Representation at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair

When Ida B. Wells urges Black Americans to boycott the 1893 Chicago World's Fair, young Lorraine Williams will do anything for a chance to see her idol, the Black opera singer Sissieretta Jones, perform at the fair.

About the author

Anne E. Johnson grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and often visited Chicago with her family. She went to Queens College for a master's degree in musicology, a commute that took her past the remnants of the 1939 world's fair nearly every day. One of her favorite albums was a set of spirituals sung by the Black opera singer Marian Anderson. Inspired by recent books and recordings featuring the Black composers Florence Price and Margaret Bonds, Anne has been keen to learn more about Black women in the classical music scene at the turn of the twentieth century. Writing this book proved the perfect excuse to do that, and discovering the story of Sissieretta Jones was an excellent reward for her research.

Product details

• Authors: Anne E Johnson, Anne E. Johnson
• Assisted by: Eric Freeberg (Illustration)
• Publisher: North Star Editions
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: ages 8 to 12
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.09.2021
• EAN: 9781631635380
• ISBN: 978-1-63163-538-0
• No. of pages: 160
• Dimensions: 137 mm x 197 mm x 15 mm
• Weight: 249 g
• Series: I am America Set 4
• Subject: Children's and young people's books