Misty Copeland Poster

We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy

Misty Copeland is a ground-breaking ballerina, bestselling author, role model, and youth mentor. Introduced to ballet at the late age of thirteen through her local Boys & Girls Club, Misty rose swiftly in classical ballet to become the first African American woman to ever be promoted to principal dancer in the prestigious American Ballet Theatre’s 75-year history. Her 2014 memoir, Life in Motion, co-written with Charisse Jones, is a New York Times bestseller and her children’s book, Firebird, co-written and illustrated by Christopher Myers, received the 2015 Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award, among other awards. Her latest book, Ballerina Body, was published in 2017. Misty dedicates significant time to mentoring young girls and boys and was the 2018 honorary chair of National Library Week.

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