"Omar at Christmas"

This scan features Omar at Christmas, written by Edgar White and illustrated by Dindga McCannon. The book emerged from conversations between White and McCannon about the scarcity of children’s literature reflecting Black urban life and their own communities. White, who was raised in Montserrat and later in the Bronx after his mother sent for him—a migration pattern common in West Indian families—based the story on his childhood experiences in New York. After discussing the need for representation, White approached a publisher who had previously produced his plays, and the two collaborated on the children’s books, with McCannon serving as illustrator.

McCannon’s illustrations incorporate linoleum cuts and a deliberate red and green palette referencing both Christmas and the red, black, and green of Pan-African liberation flags. The visual language reflects her political consciousness at the time, aligning holiday imagery with broader diasporic identity and self-determination. The project marked an early collaborative period in McCannon’s career, rooted in shared community, partnership, and a commitment to creating books that mirrored the lives of Black children.