Black Brother, Black Brother

Black Brother, Black Brother was published in 2020 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Written by Jewell Parker Rhodes, the novel serves as a contemporary middle-grade exploration of systemic racism, colorism, and the personal search for identity. Inspired by the historical precedent of the trial of the historical figures in Alexandre Dumas’s life—specifically the reality that Dumas himself was a Black man in a white-dominated society—Rhodes crafted a narrative that bridges historical legacy with the modern realities of the American school system.

The story follows Donte Ellison, a boy with dark skin who faces unfair disciplinary treatment compared to his lighter-skinned brother, Trey. Rhodes designed the narrative to address the specific complexities of colorism within the Black community and the broader impacts of educational bias. Upon its release, the book was widely praised by critics for its empathetic approach to difficult social themes, earning a place on numerous state reading lists and receiving critical acclaim for its contribution to diverse youth literature.