Yanga

This book is about the life of Yanga, an important figure in Mexico and the African diaspora in the Americas. It tells the story of how Yanga reinvented himself on a new continent and fought for his freedom and his people, founding in the early 17th century the first town free of slavery in the Americas officialy recognized by the King of Spain. The author hopes that Yanga's example will encourage children and young people to develop resilience and show them that victories can be achieved with conviction, constancy, and strategies. The book aims to promote a love for reading and knowledge of the past, while respecting cultural differences, with easy-to-understand maps and timelines, reflection questions, a reader comprehension questionnaire, and a glossary. The language is simple and written in the present tense to help readers empathize with Yanga's anti-slavery struggle and feel like they are experiencing it in the moment. Arturo Martinez, a native of the state where Yanga founded his town, provides vivid and accurate artwork that complements the book. Through his cultural contribution, which demonstrates his first-hand knowledge of the people whose story is narrated in this book, the reader gains a deeper understanding of the cultural context.