“Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave,” by Laban Carrick Hill, illustrated by Bryan Collier.
Little, Brown and Company, New York, 2010, 40 pages, Grades 2-4.
The United States has been in upheaval because of the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent racial demonstrations related to incidents of police brutality and the consequences of historical racism. These are very unsettling times, as little is known about the end of the Covid-19 pandemic and the difficulties involved in overcoming racial problems. What should one do? Part of the answer in understanding our history is to look at heroes from our past. Many of them suffered from brutal conditions and continued to express themselves in remarkable ways.
One such person was Dave the Potter, a South Carolina slave in the early 1800s. No one would have needed to tell Dave the Potter about racial oppression. Yet in his bleak world, Dave the Potter created some of the most remarkable pottery items of the period. Though slaves were forbidden to write, with bravery, he frequently signed his works and even wrote poetry on the exterior of his creations. Laban Carrick Hill tells this remarkable story in the picture book, “Dave the Potter: Artist, Poet, Slave.”
As the book begins, readers see African-American slaves toiling under the hot sun in difficult farm work. Dave sifts the soil between his fingers and knows that he can make something from this clay. Soon, he is sitting at his potter’s wheel, throwing a pot. The clay is not easy to work with and requires very strong hands. As the wheel spins the mound of clay around, Dave reaches into the wet clay and begins to form it into a shape. Dave grasps the clay and draws it upward. He delicately creates the walls and lip of the pot. He is so talented that his pot is taller than any other pot in the region. The height and strength of the pot’s wall allow it to hold up to 20 gallons of water. That is 160 pounds of liquid. Pots like this are unheard of.
Dave then carefully fires the pot in a kiln and applies a glaze to the inside and outside of the pot. But before the pot is completely hardened, Dave signs the pot with the date and his name. Frequently, he writes hopeful poems on the shell. The poems often reflect great hope and beauty. When it is all done, Dave has created a masterpiece. How did he do it?
What can Dave the Potter teach us today as we struggle through our difficult times? In the midst of terrible social situations, Dave still found the beauty of life. He found unity, love and friendship. He is a remarkable American hero. I hope you will go to the library and read the inspiring story of “Dave the Potter,” told so beautifully by Laban Carrick Hill.
This book has won numerous awards. The story demonstrates Dave’s depth of character and his remarkable skill as a potter. The illustrations showing him creating a pot on his wheel are fascinating. The clay changes color under his deft fingers and the three-page spread of the process is visually stunning.
Though we know little of Dave’s life, his beautiful pottery tells us of his courage, artistry and humanity. He maintained his honor and dignity under the most trying situations. His is a story of greatness. I hope you get a chance to read this powerful and inspiring story.
