Themes of strength and endurance permeate the text of this book. Lester's questions to the reader and Brown's paintings depict the strength of character, hope, and endurance that black people possess.

There is also a spirit of hope and resistance. Lester's questions for the reader lead him to examine the paintings and really see the emotions portrayed in the expressions and body language of the people. While the slaves do the "master's" bidding, they are at the same time waiting for the opportunity to be free. The reader sees the dignity in their bearing.

Lester's purpose is to lead the reader from painting to painting and ask penetrating questions that evoke empathetic emotions. He wants the reader to think deeply.

Sometimes the questions are for whites, other times they are for blacks, and sometimes the questions are for both. Lester writes from his own...