“To be a Drum”

By: Evelyn Coleman

Art by: Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson

Summary: With the rhythm begins a story, a story that Daddy Wes whispers to his two young children one morning. It is the story of the drum, the pulse of the drum that is in our hearts, minds and souls. It is a story that takes you back to yesteryear, a day on the continent of Africa. It is a story of African people that move through time beating as a drum, moving as a drum, and becoming a drum. It is a mytho-poetic symbol that links all people to their African roots and the rhythm of the earth that if you are quite and still you can still feel the beating of the drum.

Illustration and Art: The artist in the book used different dyes and paper, the artist incorporates pieces of cloth and various materials to show how they put messages in their quilts, including wool, raw cotton, clay, sand, wood strips, vintage buttons, and basket fragments. In the book some of the cloth scraps were from the artist’s great-aunt who was a slave in Georgia. Other scraps she collected from clothing dating back from the early twentieth century to the present.

Evaluation by Genre: The genre is Historical Fiction, the story is Music, Cultural (African American), Children’s, Inspirational, Family, History, Culture, Art, and Environment (Nature).  It is a combination of history, exhortation, and tactile images, the text offers a dramatic read-a-loud opportunity, given the right tellers voice. The art combines many elements to create a vibrant, eclectic series of scenes throughout the book. As described on page 56 in our text, Literature and the Child, Figure 3.1 describes Fiction as Characters that are dimensional as well as believable, that the story is set in the real world of the past and the real world of the present times. Events of the book are plausible, logical and real world of the present, and the past. The text also states on page 24, that Historical fiction is a setting that affects the plot and character Authentic of details and language. On page 25, it states that the book is an excellent piece of literature, the book depicts diversity, it explores cultural differences, it is appropriate and a positive contribution to understanding of the culture portrayed.

Motivational activities Include:  

 • Retell this story in your own words.

• Discuss and then tell or write about what you enjoyed most about this book.

• Research the subject of slavery. What does it mean to be a slave? What was the life of a

slave like? Discuss what you learned about slavery with an adult.

• The illustrations in To Be a Drum are very unique. How do they make you feel? Why do you

think Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson chose this type of artwork for this particular book?

Reader Response Questions:

(1)What year did slavery start? (2)Who were the first slaves? (3)Why didn’t Mat hear the drums? (4)What would you have done differently if you were taken from your land and taken to a new country? (5)What were all the ways they used drums?

If you like this book you can also read by Evelyn Coleman: “Circle of Fire” “White Socks Only” “Mystery of the Dark Tower” “The Foot Warmer and the row” “The Glass Bottle Tree” and “Shadows on Society Hill.”

Personal Comments: I personally found this book to be not only historical but inspiring. When you read, “To Be a Drum,” you are taken back to a place in Africa, you struggle with the agony of being taken away from your family. You as a people use the only thing you had a ‘Drum.’ A simple musical instrument that others would see but not see that it is your way of life beating inside of you, wanting to be ‘free’ with every beat of your heart, beating as a drum. You feel the beat moving through your body pushing out, out from your fingers hitting the drum, feeling the rhythm pulsate through your body. Cruelty could not stop your drum oh no not your drum! You kept on beating, beating for the world to see, that you are alive, you are “Free.” A must read for all ages. Please purchase the book and read it right away and tell me if you still feel the same after reading, “To Be a Drum.” I know I was not; I ran out the next day and purchased a personal copy. Good Reading and God Bless.  

Cited

Coleman, Evelyn, and Aminah Brenda Lynn Robinson. To Be a Drum. Morton Grove, IL: Albert Whitman Galda, Lee, Bernice E. Cullinan, and Lawrence R. Sipe. "Literature and the Child." , 7th Edition by Lee Galda, Bernice E. Cullinan, Lawrence R. Sipe (9780495602392). Wadsworth, Cengage Learning, n.d. &, 1998. Print.

Post by: Terry M. Wheaton