I believe it's important to teach children about the struggles and victories of the civil rights movement because children can play an important role in changing the world today. Here are a few civil rights books you can read and discuss to learn more about the people who stood up and made a difference in the world.
Written by Willie Mae Brown
New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 2023. Biography.
My Selma is several stories told from the perspective of a young girl, Willie Mae, living in Alabama during the civil rights movement. It's the summer of 1965 and young Willie Mae is experiencing life during a time of racism and prejudice, where she is judged everyday because of the color of her skin. You experience her world through her eyes as she talks about a job she gets babysitting for a white family, attending a church rally with her mother where Martin Luther King Jr. speaks along with many other experiences.
A memoir that powerfully talks about some tough topics that happened in our country's history. Reminiscent of Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, this book looks at some big questions while also reminding you of what it is like being a kid looking at the world and how scary it can be sometimes. A look at American history and what happened to move us forward to a better place.
Written by Gwendolyn Battle-Lavert
Illustrated by Colin Bootman
New York: Holiday House, 2023. Picture Book.
It is a few days before Election Day and Simms is excited that his papa, an African American, will be able to vote for the first time. Simms knows his papa can't write and he see's him at night practicing his letters as he learns how to write his name. Simms offers to help his papa learn to write, but his papa declines. Papa eventually changes his mind and asks Simms to help him. When Election Day finally comes Papa can sign his name when he goes to vote which is a proud moment for Simms and his Papa.
This is a heartfelt story about a young boy who wants to help his father learn to read and write. It's a story of persistence with some historical elements about the 13th Amendment, slavery, and the importance of the Voting Rights Act. A perfect book about the importance of voting that can be read together and then discussed.
Written by Sharon Langley and Amy Nathan
Illustrated by Floyd Cooper
New York: Abrams Books for Young Readers, 2020. Informational.
"Everyone is equal when they ride a carousel," but in 1963 equality in the United States was not practiced. A young Sharon Langley, who lived just outside of the Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore Maryland, was not allowed to enter the park or go on any of the rides because of the color of her skin. Segregation laws at that time allowed park owners to refuse admittance to African Americans. But a tide of change was rising as people began to realize the importance of freedom and equality for all. That year, in 1963, protestors gathered outside of the park with their signs and peacefully demonstrated their opposition to the laws that prevented everyone from enjoying the park's amenities. Change soon came and laws were lifted so that little Sharon who wasn't even a year-old was allowed to ride the carousel. She made history that day by becoming the first African American to ride the carousel.
A beautiful story with a heartfelt message about equal rights for all.
Written by Sandra Neil Wallace
Illustrated by Bryan Collier
New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2023. Informational.
Have you heard of Diane Nash? She was a brave, kind woman who was influential in bringing about equal rights for everyone. Diane was raised in Chicago by her grandmother. She grew up going to schools where she was treated fairly and your skin color didn't matter. After graduating from high school she moved to Nashville to attend college. She was surprised to find segregation everywhere in Nashville, not just in schools but in every day life and she was determined to see everyone treated equally. She wanted her voice to be heard so she joined in and led peaceful marches, sit-ins, and joined in freedom rides to help fight for equal bus transportation. Her determination and dedication to equal rights helped to bring about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This is a powerful story of a lesser know civil rights activist with gorgeous illustrations.
Written by Leah Henderson
Illustrated by Keisha Morris
New York: HarperCollins Publishers, 2024. Picture Book.
It's Election Day and young Quetta can't wait for her mother to come home so they can go together to vote. It's a long walk from their home and they have to take several buses to get to the polling station. When Quetta, her grandmother, and mother finally arrive they have to wait in a long line. Quetta's grandmother tells her stories about why voting is important and how it can change people's lives while they wait.
This book is a great introduction to the voting process and how using your voice can create change. A reminder that voting is a right we shouldn't take for granted.
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