Simplified Gospel Music Title: By and By: Charles Albert Tindley, the Father of Gospel Music

A stirring picture book biography from award-winning duo Carole Boston Weatherford and Bryan Collier celebrates the life of gospel composer and preacher Charles Albert Tindley, best known for the gospel hymn "We'll Understand It Better By and By." Tindley, born free at a time when most African Americans were still enslaved, faced a challenging childhood filled with backbreaking labor in the fields and a lack of educational opportunities. However, the spirituals he heard while working instilled in him a deep desire to read the Gospel for himself. Through sheer determination, Tindley taught himself to read using scraps of newspapers, eventually becoming a founding father of American gospel music. His hymn was the basis for the Civil Rights anthem "We Shall Overcome," a testament to the power of his music and conviction to inspire countless lives.

Weatherford's lyrical words, complemented by Collier's luminous pictures, weave together snippets of spirituals and Tindley's own hymns, creating a captivating narrative that celebrates the life and legacy of this remarkable individual. The book's lilting verse and vibrant illustrations transport readers to a time when African Americans, despite the challenges they faced, found solace and strength in the transformative power of music and faith.

This stirring picture book biography pays tribute to Charles Albert Tindley, a man whose contributions to gospel music and the Civil Rights movement have left an indelible mark on American history. Through the pages of this work, readers are invited to explore the inspirational journey of a man who, against all odds, rose from humble beginnings to become a pioneering figure in the world of gospel music and a symbol of the enduring human spirit.

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