The Boy at the Back of the Bus 
 

Interview with Antoinette Brooks, Baptist church member and author of a new book documenting the childhood of Martin Luther King

You have just authored and illustrated a book about Martin Luther King - can you introduce it? 
 
The Boy at the Back of the Bus is inspired by the childhood and early adulthood of Martin Luther King Jr. It’s a colourfully illustrated narrative poem, told in a conversational style, and explores his growing awareness of the Jim Crow laws that were prevalent at the time.

It starts with this idyllic friendship, of him and his best friend, who was white, but everything is shattered when his friend starts school and will no longer play with him.

This sets King on a journey to understand his place in American society, and then to use his talents – his oratory and leadership skills – to stand up to the system of discrimination and change things.


What was the thinking behind focusing on King's childhood?

I grew up knowing so much about Martin Luther King Jr, about his wonderful public speaking skills, and how he inspired a generation. But I think it’s important for us to remember that there is a very real person behind the public image. Specifically, as a child, he had to learn the resilience of dealing with such prejudice every day of his life.

And of course it wasn’t easy for him. At times he was hurt, confused, angry – all those emotions that we would naturally experience in such situation. But he was able to take the hurt, take the anger and transform it into a positive model of social justice.
 

Who is the book aimed at - and what are your hopes for it?

The book is primarily aimed at children aged 8 – 11. It’s part of a series published by Collins Big Cat which is part of a reading scheme that really helps children develop fluency in their reading skills. And the great thing is, it comes with helpful videos and lesson plans on the Collins Big Cat site too.  
 
I wanted to show how accessible Martin Luther King Jr was. And how the painful experiences of his formative years helped him develop resilience.

I also wanted to show that there were so many other people who were part of the early Civil Rights Movement too, and how so many women, whose names might not be so well known, worked with King Jr to bring change.
 

How has King's life and work inspired you and impacted your own faith?
 
Oh, first of all, I think it’s so helpful to remember that he wasn’t perfect. Of course he never claimed to be, but it’s an image that’s often foisted upon him, which can detract from his human frailties. So how he has inspired me is by his resilience.

There is a moment in the book where Martin Luther King Jr is feeling on top of the world. He has travelled hundreds of miles away from home, has done well in a speaking competition, and on the way home he decides to make a stand against the Jim Crow laws, and he refuses to sit at the back of the bus as expected.

He was only 15 at the time, and this was ten years before Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
 
I won’t reveal too much of that bus journey, but things didn’t go quite as he expected. And it reminds me of the verse in Proverbs 24, where you might fall seven times, but you still get up and carry on.
 
 
One of your previous books - Friday Night Cake - won the 2022/23 Jericho Prize. What was that book about, and what's been the impact of winning that prize on your development as a writer?
 
Thanks for asking! The Jericho Prize is a writing competition aimed at black British writers who are previously unpublished. That book isn’t out as yet – publishing takes time (smile) – so I cannot say too much at the moment, although I really want to!

But the main impact is that as a result of winning the prize I landed a publishing deal with Scholastic, and for that I am so thankful.
 

Antoinette Brooks is storyteller, poet and illustrator who lives in London, where she attends a Baptist church. Find out more on her website 

The Boy at the Back of the Bus by Antoinette Brooks is published by Collins as part of its Big Cat series

Do you have a view? Share your thoughts via our letters' page.