Publisher Description
New York Times best-selling author and NBA Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar examines some of the leading political and cultural figures of the Harlem Renaissance-including Marcus Garvey,W.E.B. Du Bois, Quincy Jones, Herbie Hancock, Langston Hughes, and many more.
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“During the Harlem Renaissance of the ‘30s, the African-American community responded to relentless oppression, segregation and disenfranchisement by exploding with an outburst of artistic and political achievement that has never been duplicated in American history. Perhaps Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s vivid and moving rendering of that time in On the Shoulders of Giants can inspire the next generation to connect to that rich artistic history and thereby overcome the ‘get rich or die tryin’' mentality to once again ascend to heights of accomplishment which truly manifests their capabilities.”
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Herbie Hancock
About Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Since retiring, he has been an actor and basketball coach and has authored six books for adults and three for children, including What Color Is My World?, which won the NAACP award for Best Children’s Book. In 2012, he was selected as a US cultural ambassador, and in 2016 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian award which recognizes exceptional meritorious service.
About Jesse L. Martin
Jesse Martin is a narrator and an accomplished actor and singer on the stage and screen. He has spent nine seasons as Detective Edward Green on the perennial hit Law & Order. In the theater, he originated the role of Thomas B. “Tom” Collins in Jonathan Larson’s award-winning musical Rent. He also reprised his role in the film adaptation. He is an alumnus of New York University and a classically trained stage actor.