Witnesses to Freedom: Young People Who Fought for Civil Rights

by Belinda Rochelle

Overview

Describes the experiences of young Blacks who were involved in significant events in the civil rights movement, including Brown vs. Board of Education, the Montgomery bus boycott, and the sit-in movement.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780140384321
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	02/01/1997
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	219,687
Product dimensions:	7.06(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.32(d)
Lexile:	1040L (what's this?)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Belinda Rochelle is the author of Witnesses to Freedom: Young People Who Fought for Civil Rights, Jewels, and When Jo Louis Won the Title. In addition to her authorship, she has worked as a lobbyist for women’s organizations in Washington, DC.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 5-8-While adult leaders' contributions to the civil rights movement have been well chronicled, those made by young people have not received as much attention. Rochelle relates the pivotal roles played by young African Americans in nine major events, including the integration of Central High School in Little Rock, the Montgomery bus boycott, and the lunch-counter sit-ins at Woolworth in North Carolina. A chapter is devoted to each event. The author describes the circumstances surrounding each occurrence and highlights the experiences and feelings of those involved. Ranging in age from eight to their upper teens, the subjects poignantly describe how their commitment to their cause propelled them to take a stand for freedom, often at great personal risk. Some of the individuals portrayed may not be well known, but their stories are inspiring and touching. Rochelle does a commendable job of explaining issues and relating events in an understandable manner. The black-and-white photographs adequately reinforce the text, and the jacket photo is striking and appealing. This informative book provides special insight into recent American history and will enhance any collection. It is comparable to, but for a younger audience than, Ellen Levine's Freedom's Children (Putnam, 1993).-Jeanette Lambert, Nashville Metropolitan Schools, TN

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