Detroit author creates coloring book to teach Black history across generations

Detroit author Javonne Barrett published Lines of Legacy, a coloring book that illustrates 25 pivotal moments in Black history and seeks to prompt conversation across ages and communities.

Javonne Barrett, a Detroit native and University of Michigan alum, created Lines of Legacy: A Black History Coloring Book. The book presents 25 pivotal moments in American Black history through line drawings meant for coloring. Barrett says the project aims to make Black history approachable and to prompt conversation across generations. He also describes Detroit's influence on the work. Key details: - The book is titled Lines of Legacy: A Black History Coloring Book and features 25 illustrated moments. - Subjects range from Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech to Kendrick Lamar's 2025 Super Bowl Halftime Show performance, as noted in coverage. - Barrett says the illustrations are meant to guide coloring while also tracing origins of experiences Black Americans face today. - The project is framed as a way to spark conversation across ages and races and to serve as an additional artifact amid concerns about erasure and knowledge gaps. - Barrett lists upcoming events and information on availability on his website, according to the report. Summary: Barrett's book combines creative activity and historical information to encourage discussion about Black history and cultural memory. The work emphasizes Detroit's influence and responds to perceived gaps in how history is taught. Information about public events and where the book is available is provided on the author's website.