We Are the Ship

       Nelson, K. (2008).  We are the ship  NY:  Hyperion. We Are the Ship discusses the lives of a group of men that loved baseball more than anything. They had to endure pain, injuries, low pay, and discrimination in order to play ball in fields under terrible conditions. Nelson does a phenomenal job sharing untold or even forgotten stories that depict the lives of black men during the 1920s that paved the way for other African American men to be be able to play in the major leagues. The book is organized by innings instead of chapters and is accompanied by inspiring quotes. Some of the stories may be heartbreaking, but they are very powerful. What makes this book unique is the breathtaking paintings that wonderfully support Nelson's purpose for writing this book. The paintings captivate the reader and forces him to live the pain and suffering these men endured.