Selma, Lord, Selma: Girlhood Memories of the Civil Rights Days

by Sheyann Webb, Rachel West Nelson, Frank Sikora

Sheyann Webb was eight years old and Rachel West was nine when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. arrived in Selma, Alabama, on January 2, 1965. He came to organize non-violent demonstrations against discriminatory voting laws. Selma, Lord, Selma is their firsthand account of the events from that turbulent winter of 1965--events that changed not only the lives of these two little girls but the lives of all Alabamians and all Americans. From 1975 to 1979, award-winning journalist Frank Sikora conducted interviews with Webb and West, weaving their recollections into this luminous story of fear and courage, struggle and redemption that readers will discover is Selma, Lord, Selma.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Memoir, African American, Biography, Historical, College

164 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

While growing up, I watched the movie Selma, Lord, Selma, and its focus on the Civil Rights movement through a girl my own age impacted me greatly. I felt inspired by Martin Luther King Jr. through Sheyanne and Rachel as he sat and talked with them. I felt devastated with Sheyanne and Rachel as they lost friends like Jimmie Lee Jackson and Jonathan Daniels. I felt victorious with Sheyanne and Rachel as they accomplished their march. It’s a great movie.

The book is a fantastic first hand account of the 1963-1965 Civil Rights movement events in Selma, including the teacher march, the children’s march, Bloody Sunday, and the march from Selma to Montgomery. Rachel and Sheyanne detail their hopes, fears, misunderstandings, and grief in a way that brings the movement to life. I kept thinking back to John Lewis’s graphic novel series March and the recent Selma biopic which depicted the same scenes from a more graphic adult perspective. Collectively, seeing the same events from so many viewpoints creates a more three dimensional understanding. I loved this.

[Helene · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a recommended reading book for the Road Scholar Civil Rights Tour. Little did I know it is really a children's book and a good one. So reading it in basically one day was not an issue, short book, under 150 pages, large type, and a number of photographs.

It chronicles the story of two young girls, both nine, who participated in the Civil Rights movement in Selma. One, Sheyann, actually walked on the Bloody Sunday on the John Pettus Bridge. Both knew, loved, and respected Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and there is a picture of the two of them on his lap.

What was a surprise to me was the connection with Jonathan Daniels. Having worked in the Keene school system, we all knew his story, and of course, one of the elementary schools was named after him. But when he was in Selma he actually lived with Rachel West's family and both girls were quite attached to him. Rachel's mother actually flew to Keene for his funeral. We are certainly all connected!

So, short, quick, but well done and well worth the read!

[Mark Geisthardt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read portions of this book in seminary in the late 1990s and revisited those same short sections earlier this year. This prompted me to go and find the full version because I wanted to hear the rest of the story. It tells the incredible true story about two little girls and the impact they had in the events in Selma in 1965. One of the things that really connected for me is that I'm the same age as Shey and Rachel. We just happened to grow up in different locations. They were in Alabama. I was in Wisconsin. But I know had we gone to the same school, assuming integration, we would have been good friends and I thank them for their part in The Movement and I thank Dr. Vincent Harding for first introducing me to the book and to them. It is a wonderful read!

[Craig Werner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Selma viewed from the perspective of two young girls--8 and 9 at the time--who lived through the midst of the Selma civil rights campaign. They do a great job communicating the pervasive sense of fear and the courage they tapped to overcome it. Wonderful picture of Martin Luther King holding Shey (pronounced Shy) and Rachel on his lap.

Best imaginable introduction to the movement for a young reader.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm hoping I can manage to read this aloud to my class without bursting into tears.
Sheyann Webb and Rachel West were 8 and 9 when they joined the Civil Rights Movement. They told their story to Frank Sikora when they were teens. They speak honestly of their fear, sorrow and triumph during this amazing time.

[Carol Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is 144 pages of memories from when these two 19-year-old women were 9 years old in 1965 during the days preceding and ending with the 50-mile march from Selma, Alabama to Montgomery. They were in the middle of this, knowing Martin Luther King and attending demonstrations, planning meetings and being terrified of what may happen, but feeling the need to attend and participate. They convinced their parents to participate.

These are little-known facts of children being that involved--seeing the bloodshed, smelling the tear gas, watching the horses as they nearly got trampled by them, hearing the terrifying stories.

Such a well written, engrossing read.

[Rachel Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sheyann Webb and Rachel West Nelson gave a unique perspective as they marched in Selma with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other civil rights leaders for voter rights and police brutality as children. The goal of Frank Sikora was to learn the girls feelings during the time period. He did a good job of documenting the emotions as I truly felt sorrow for these young ladies. While I felt sorrow I was thankful for Sheyann (age 8) and Rachel (age 9) as they had the courage to protest for the rights of African Americans.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-read book for your civil rights library. It is a tale told by two young women, ten years after the Selma marches, recounting their experiences with the Selma movement in 1965, when they were 9 years old. Their story gets to the heart of the matter -- what it was like "on the ground", so to speak.

[Sarah Toppins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A compelling recounting of two little girls (an eight-year-old and a nine-year-old) who participated in the 1965 marches in Selma for voting rights.

[Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first read this book as a freshman in college in 1981. I don't think I was able to connect in my mind that 1965 wasn't very long before that -- it represented the timespan of practically my whole life. The history didn't seem relevant somehow to me, I'm ashamed to admit. After seeing the brilliant film SELMA, reading this book became an "insider's guide" -- to an amazing story lived and told through the words of two children. I am grateful to have found a copy of the book, and I hope it regains importance in the popular reading canon.

[Jennie Helderman · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story of two little girls who at ages 8 and 9 joined the civil rights movement in Selma, Alabama, and were full participants, drawing their families in, leading the crowds in songs, and running from state troopers on horses swinging billy clubs.

Frank Sikora interviewed them when they were in their late teens and he was smart enough to let them tell the story in their own words. A very short book heavy with courage. Very moving.

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A remarkable first-hand account of the Civil Rights movement told by Sheyann Webb and Rachel West who participated in the actions in Selma, Alabama in January through March 1965, including Bloody Sunday, at eight and nine years of age - powerful, poignant and inspiring from first to last - who says children aren't political!

[Jeanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This hit close to home since I teach in Selma. I actually know one of the authors, Rachel West. One of my friends grew up in the housing area where the story is based. It is a touching story of the Civil Rights Movement through the eyes of two little girls.

[Africanpersonalities2000]

great read about the affects of the civil rights movement from a yonger perspectives of sheyann webb and rachel west, very detetailed emotionally moving recollections of civil rights accounts.

peace and light

[Tina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to read with "Warriors Don't Cry" and prior to "The Secret Life of Bees" and "The Help"

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story.

[Ghslibrary]

The childhood memories of Sheyann Webb and Rachel Nelson who were little girls in 1965 in Selma, Alabama. The girls were actively involved in the civil rights marches and protests in Selma. This is such a unique perspective to see this major historical event through the eyes of a child. The book was easy reading. Small paragraphs of explanation set the stage for historic events. A really good book with a thought provoking perspective.

Recommended!

February 2018.