I Know a Man…Ashley Bryan

Gr 7 Up—Ashley Bryan narrates this film about his life and creative passion. He radiates the joy of living completely in the moment and has translated it into many artistic pursuits—painting, woodcut, puppetry, poetry, and writing and illustrating children's books. Bryan speaks of being encouraged by his high school teachers and of being rejected when he first applied to art school, simply because he was black. An instructor urged him to apply to Cooper Union, which accepted submissions without seeing the applicants, and Bryan won a full scholarship. His studies, though, were interrupted when he was drafted into World War II. During this time, his art sustained him. When he returned from serving in a segregated unit, he finished college and went on to acquire a philosophy degree from Columbia, in addition to his art degree. Bryan used his dual degrees to understand, honor, and document the experience of African Americans. His playfulness comes through in scenes where he reads his original folktales to children, involving them in the process with shouted refrains. An amazing storyteller, Bryan nails the sound of the blackbird and illustrates the rhythm of the words with his movements and expressions. The historical context of the African American experience from Bryan's perspective will also interest general audiences.