Daniel J. Middleton launched a new publishing imprint called Unique Coloring in 2020. He has been working behind the scenes from that time on producing a series of activity books, bookazines, and coloring books all geared toward adults. What these books have in common is that they celebrate black history and culture and aim to introduce readers to figures, places, and events from the past that are less well known today. The first of those books, due for release on June 14th, is The Black History Activity Book. It features twelve fairly obscure historical subjects, rather than what Middleton calls the “A-list” group readers usually encounter during Black History Month. Middleton’s company, Unique Coloring, also releases short documentary videos on historic individuals through a YouTube channel that can be found on his website: uniquecoloring.com.

The Black History Activity Book is filled with articles, trivia, word searches, and crossword puzzles, and offers detailed articles that cover people like Frederick McKinley Jones, who revolutionized refrigerated transport and made the frozen aisle at grocery stores possible. You’ll also learn about Matthew Henson, the co-discoverer of the North Pole, a black man who received no recognition for the famed expedition. These and other interesting subjects are featured in Middleton’s book, and he plans to release several titles each year, all focusing on black history and culture.

“I think it’s highly important that black history subjects receive attention outside of just one month,” Middleton said to The African Magazine for this article. “It has been a sorely underrepresented segment of mainstream media and established curriculums in this country. But thankfully, that is starting to change. I plan on contributing significantly to that important change through Unique Coloring. The collective accomplishments of blacks around the world is finally going to get the recognition it deserves.”

Middleton is releasing a second book on July 1st called 21st Century Black Changemakers, which is a biography coloring book that features more unsung black Americans who have made history in this century. He covers individuals like General Lloyd Austin III, who made history by being sworn in as the first black Secretary of Defense in the United States. Twelve historic profiles are presented in a short article format along with full-color illustrations that act as references for the detailed grayscale line art versions readers can color.

These and other items of interest can be found at: uniquecoloring.com.

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About Daniel J. Middleton

Daniel J. Middleton has been passionate about writing, illustrating, and history from childhood. He engages in meticulous research when approaching his subjects, using various primary, secondary, and tertiary sources that are carefully vetted for accuracy. In addition, the same determination is carried over to the materials he illustrates, the references for which are also carefully chosen to represent a given period in a factual light. His books are available for order at online retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Books-A-Million.