LIFELINES: The Black Book of Proverbs

Written by Askhari Johnson Hodari and Yvonne McCalla Sobers

Foreword by the Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Illustrated by Katie Yamasaki

Broadway Books, 2009

About This Book

Yamasaki illustrated this collection of proverbs from throughout the African diaspora.

Below is the book’s description from the Lifeline’s website – www.lifelinesproverbs.com. This illustrated treasury of proverbs unites the timeless wisdom of Black communities in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas, while speaking to the triumphs and challenges of everyday life.

Proverbs are presented in vibrant story-poem form, and are uniquely arranged by key life cycle events such as birth, initiation, marriage, and death. The proverbs can be found under themes such as “wealth,” “parenting,” “change” and “strength.” Inspired illustrations introduce each section along with beautiful vignettes showing how African proverbs comfort, inspire and instruct during different phases of life.

LIFELINES draws inspiration from the authors’ combined 110 years of experience and proverb gathering. Askhari Johnson Hodari and Yvonne McCalla Sobers share proverbs that both tell a story and stand on their own. So whether you flip LIFELINES open to a random page, read Lifelines through from start to finish, or search for a proverb to speak to your unique circumstance, you’ll find just the right lifeline to provide the comfort and support you’re seeking.