Beautiful Blackbird

Beautiful Blackbird by Ashley Bryan is based upon an African tale from Zambia. The story begins a long time ago when all the birds of Africa were colorful, but they did not have a mark of black upon their feathers. Blackbird was the only one, and the other birds were envious:

Ringdove called, "Coo-coo-roo, coo-ca-roo, I've a question to ask of you. Who is the most beautiful?

The colored birds never even raised a wing. They raised their beaks and began to sing,

"Blackbird stands out the best of all.
Blackbird is the most beautiful.
His feathers gleam all colors in the sun.
Blackbird is the most beautiful one."

Blackbird reminds the other birds that the "Color on the outside is not what's on the inside." Blackbird proceeds to stir his blackening brew in the medicine gourd. He paints black markings on the other birds. The message is clearly "Black is beautiful!", but you don't have to be African American to appreciate that all beings are beautiful.