This book is heavy on understanding and less on tutorials. By no means bad, but think of this as an art history book more so than a “how to paint” book. Shabazz acknowledges this and states that once you’ve seen one "how to draw art" book that you’ve seen them all as far as mechanics go. But he desired to go more in-depth on things like history and gender representation as it concerns art. 

How to Draw Black People describes the planning creators need to consider when designing and writing (black) characters. Readers will understand why it’s important to depict Black characters tastefully, and it shows the history of racist caricatures that have been thrust upon black people. From as earlier as propaganda against African countries, such as Angola and Congo, that were created to lure indentured servants. 

BUT I think the title is heavily misdirected. The better title: How to Create Black Characters. I would say ¾’s of the book covers character theory. Everything here is geared toward the creation of a character that will be reused in a long-running comic or novel as opposed to a single drawing. This book will force you to learn, and you’ll probably be better for it. Why do certain colors wash out melanin-rich skin? How do different hair textures react to gravity? How to represent black features? 

The book also acknowledges just because you’re black doesn’t mean you automatically know how to draw a black person either. It’s not always an innate skill. Like, any other person we have to learn to draw from life or from books, which in the past have not been great for representation. 

Ultimately, this book is better suited for writers and comic book artists. I was a bit disappointed because I love tutorials that focus on rendering dark skin and making kinky hair. Still, I think the book would prove beneficial for art students or anyone in an art class. 

SN: There’s a brief section on “sexuality” and the reference character, a woman, was drawn with sagging breasts and a tummy and perceived as sexy. Kudos for doing something different. 

 But … I’m not sure why there’s a big booty horse-woman in this book. I guess it’s for the furries??? Be all things to all people.