Tom Feelings

Life & Legacy

Tom Feelings (May 19, 1933 – August 25, 2003) was an American artist, cartoonist, children's book illustrator, author, teacher, and activist. Many of his books focus on African-American and African culture, such as To Be a Slave (1968), Jambo Means Hello (1974), and The Middle Passage: White Ships/Black Cargo (1995).
Feelings was the recipient of numerous awards for his art in children's picture books. Feelings was the first African-American artist to receive a Caldecott Honor, and was the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1982. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he lived in New York City, Ghana, Guyana, and Columbia, South Carolina.