COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - This week every third grader in the Richland One School District is getting a copy of "All Around Town," a children's book written by local children's author Dinah Johnson.
The book's photos were taken by Columbia photographer Samuel Roberts in the 1920's.
"Mr. Richard Samuel Roberts took pictures all around town," said Johnson. "He knew one day that a boy or girl like you would look at his pictures and see a whole world in the eyes of a Carolina boy or girl.
Johnson is a Columbia native and English professor at USC.
"He captured the dignity of African Americans at a time when it was not always easy for African American's to maintain the type of dignity we see in these portraits," said Johnson.
"I wanted to get his work in the hands of children."
The City of Columbia, Richland School District One and the Columbia Museum of Art teamed up to help Johnson do just that.
She says Columbia City Council members chose "All Around Town" to be the book given to all 2,000 third graders in the district.
"People don't realize that a good story is a good story for everyone," said Johnson. "A book may have a special message for a certain community, African-Americans, but this is a Columbia Story, A United States story, a good children's books are for everyone."
It's a story that combines new words with old images in hopes of carrying a message forward.
"They can grow up, go to school and do whatever they'd like to do and contribute something wonderful to their community," said Johnson.
On Thursday the students will get autographed copies of the book.
Some of Roberts' photos at are currently on display at the Columbia Museum of Art.
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