âA powerful story.â âThe Horn Book
âA worthy addition to childrenâs biography collections.â âBooklist
âA solid treatment of an important but little-known figure, and it may prompt kids to think about the role and composition of a free press.â âBCCB
âCline-Ransome tells [Ethel Payneâs] story with economy and drive. âSomebody had to do the fighting,â she quotes Payne saying, âsomebody had to speak up.ââ âPublishers Weekly
Renowned author Lesa Cline-Ransome and celebrated illustrator John Parra unite to tell the inspiring story of Ethel Payne, a groundbreaking African American journalist known as the First Lady of the Black Press.
âIâve had a box seat on history.â
Ethel Payne always had an ear for stories. Seeking truth, justice, and equality, Ethel followed stories from her school newspaper in Chicago to Japan during World War II. It even led her to the White House briefing room, where she broke barriers as the only black female journalist. Ethel wasnât afraid to ask the tough questions of presidents, elected officials, or anyone else in charge, earning her the title, âFirst Lady of the Black Press.â
Fearless and determined, Ethel Payne shined a light on the darkest moments in history, and her ear for stories sought answers to the questions that mattered most in the fight for Civil Rights.