On the Road to Freedom: A Guided Tour of the Civil Rights Trail

by Charles E. Cobb Jr.

This in-depth look at the civil rights movement goes to the places where pioneers of the movement marched, sat-in at lunch counters, gathered in churches; where they spoke, taught, and organized; where they were arrested, where they lost their lives, and where they triumphed.

Award-winning journalist Charles E. Cobb Jr., a former organizer and field secretary for SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), knows the journey intimately. He guides us through Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, back to the real grassroots of the movement. He pays tribute not only to the men and women etched into our national memory but to local people whose seemingly small contributions made an impact. We go inside the organizations that framed the movement, travel on the "Freedom Rides" of 1961, and hear first-person accounts about the events that inspired Brown vs. Board of Education .

An essential piece of American history, this is also a useful travel guide with maps, photographs, and sidebars of background history, newspaper coverage, and firsthand interviews.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Travel

388 pages, Paperback

First published December 20, 2007

About the author

This in-depth look at the civil rights movement goes to the places where pioneers of the movement marched, sat-in at lunch counters, gathered in churches; where they spoke, taught, and organized; where they were arrested, where they lost their lives, and where they triumphed.

Award-winning journalist Charles E. Cobb Jr., a former organizer and field secretary for SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee), knows the journey intimately. He guides us through Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, back to the real grassroots of the movement. He pays tribute not only to the men and women etched into our national memory but to local people whose seemingly small contributions made an impact. We go inside the organizations that framed the movement, travel on the "Freedom Rides" of 1961, and hear first-person accounts about the events that inspired Brown vs. Board of Education.

An essential piece of American history, this is also a useful travel guide with maps, photographs, and sidebars of background history, newspaper coverage, and firsthand interviews.

Charles E. Cobb Jr. originated the "Freedom School" proposal that became a crucial part of the 1964 Mississippi Summer Project. A founding member of the Nnational Association of Black Journalists, Cobb has reported for WHUR Radio in Washington, D.C.; NPR; PBS's Frontline; and National Geographic. Cobb is a senior writer for AllAfrica.com."

Reviews

[Harinder · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like some others who have reviewed this book, I am currently driving around the South and am using it as a travel guide. It is perfect! Because it is arranged geographically, I can easily look up where I am (in Nashville at the moment) and read the civil rights history of that place. Better than that, it points me to locations to visit that aren't in any other guide book. And even better again, it gives you enough civil rights history to provide good context for what you are seeing. I can't recommend it highly enough if you are planning to visit civil rights history in one or more places in the South.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I like best about this book is the effort Cobb makes to discuss lesser-known figures in the Movement. A thorough discussion that gives so much insight to an important subject in our nation's history.

[Joe Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every home should have this book that details the road to civil rights freedom

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you'd like to visit some extremely important civil rights sites, this book will allow to organize a plan to accomplish that.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was assigned for a graduate level class I was taking. I learned so much history I was not aware of and now want to visit the places discussed in this book.

[B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arranged by state and geographic locations within, instead of by time, this book is very helpful for the Deep South trip I am planning. And the many photographs and letters and quotes set in separate boxes were also interesting, bringing the people and events into better focus for me.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is fantastic. It's a travel book and a history book at the same time. It takes each southern state chapter-by-chapter and focuses on the history of various places that you can visit that were significant to the civil rights movement. Everyone should be warned that there is a lot of history in this book. There's more history than there is the typical travel book kind of stuff. I really enjoyed that because not only do I enjoy history, but I think understanding the history of these various places is what makes them so great to visit.

I really loved learning things about the civil rights movement that I never knew before, and I honestly think this book is great for absolutely everyone. Even if you're not planning a trip to any of the places mentioned, it is a great book to read just for the history in it. I'd highly recommend it. That being said, I also really want to plan a trip to all of the different places talked about because I think they'd be great to see.

http://hmweasley-blog.blogspot.com/20...

[Cindy Grossi · Rating 4 out of 5]

How ironic that I was reading this book at the time of the shooting in the AME Episcopal Church in Charleston. In fact, I had finished the chapter that included this historic church the night before the news broke. I thought I was reading a history book, but, no, it seems the hate never ends.

This guidebook is a read in itself, without having to travel. It brings a perspective to the Civil Rights Movement sites from someone who lived the struggle. There are very specific directions and addresses to the locations.

A quote in the book from Dave Dennis on August 6, 1964 at a memorial service to James Chaney, one of the 3 civil rights workers killed and buried in a dam in Philadelphia, Mississippi: "I am sick and tired. I have attended too many memorials, too many funerals. This has got to stop."

[Will · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this as a history book, but it doesn't measure up to civil rights history books. That's not its intended purpose however. It performs much better as a guide book for anyone touring significant civil rights landmarks across the South. I hope to have the chance to take a road trip a across the South and use it for its intended purpose, pointing me to many lesser known but remarkably important, inspiring places and weaving them into the broader civil rights movement.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an excellent book. The descriptions made you feel as if you were there. The writing was excellent and you can tell he used credible sources. I learned so much reading this book. He takes each state and lists all of the areas that are important, why they are important, and why you should see it.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

takes a location based tour of the civil rights movement. interesting. a lot of stuff that i did not know and i appreciated the location based direction of it, because you could place things in your head and visualize it all more.

[Lynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really a great book! More interesting than a history book and organized by location for travel. I will use parts of this with my students when reading To Kill a Mockingbird and Mississippi Trial, 1955 to make things real for them!

[Karrie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish it provided maps and routes.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good bur disturbing book. It really was travel guide format, more than I would've thought, but well written for that.

[Lauren Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear, simple read.

[Elizabeth]

I got this for our trip through the South and read parts but not all. It is a good reference to pick up to read more about specific places or events.