The Undefeated (2020)

Written by Newbery Award-winning author Kwame Alexander and originally performed for ESPN's The Undefeated, this powerful poem is a stirring tribute to Black life in America. It honors both triumph and tribulation, from the unspeakable trauma of slavery to the courage and fire of the civil rights movement.

With art by a two-time Caldecott Honoree, the book celebrates the grit, passion, and perseverance of cultural heroes past and present. References to the words of Martin Luther King Jr., Langston Hughes, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others deepen the impact, while thoughtful back matter offers historical context for readers who want to explore further.