What Is the Civil Rights Movement?

What was...?

by Sherri L. Smith, Tim Foley (Illustrator)

Relive the moments when African Americans fought for equal rights, and made history.Even though slavery had ended in the 1860s, African Americans were still suffering under the weight of segregation a hundred years later. They couldn't go to the same schools, eat at the same restaurants, or even use the same bathrooms as white people. But by the 1950s, black people refused to remain second-class citizens and were willing to risk their lives to make a change.Author Sherri L. Smith brings to life momentous events through the words and stories of people who were on the frontlines of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.This book also features the fun black-and-white illustrations and engaging 16-page photo insert that readers have come love about the What Was? series!

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical, Childrens, Social Justice, School, Juvenile

112 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 29, 2020

About the author

Sherri L. Smith is the award-winning author of YA novels LUCY THE GIANT, SPARROW, HOT SOUR SALTY SWEET, FLYGIRL and ORLEANS. In October 2015, she makes her middle grade debut with THE TOYMAKER’S APPRENTICE from G.P. Putnam and Sons for Penguin Random House.

Sherri has worked in film, animation, comic books and construction. Her books have been listed as Amelia Bloomer, American Library Association Best Books for Young People, and Junior Library Guild Selections. FLYGIRL was the 2009 California Book Awards Gold Medalist.

She loves her family, travel, chocolate chip cookies, reading, and and a really good cup of tea.

Reviews

[LeeTravelGoddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

More books about their legacy of hate!! It’s beyond me truly!

[Margot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommend if you’re a teacher and want to use it for your students. Easy to understand, exhaustive information and useful details.

[Barbara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This one is a 2.5 for me. Although it's good to have a short book for young readers identifying some of the key moments in the civil rights movement, I wish there'd been more discussion of what was happening between the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the election of Barack Obama as President. The absence of much information about that time period is jarring and could lead some readers to assume that nothing was happening during those years. Other than that, though, the book does a good job of describing some of those important events, even including Claudette Colvin and her resistance against segregated bus policies, and Georgia Gilmore and her efforts to provide funding for transportation during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. With thumbnail sketches of some of the individuals involved in working toward change and even mention of disagreement about how change might come, the author acknowledges the importance of Malcolm X, the Black Panthers, and legislation. With its photographs in the back matter, references, and black-and-white illustrations, the book provides a helpful introduction to those times and those actions that contributed to change. Social studies teachers might want to use the book to supplement their curriculum and focus on what changes are still needed as well as those that have occurred.

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying the Who Was/What Was? series. Yes, they're very simplistic and could probably go into more detail, especially in this one where there was a huge leap between Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination and Barack Obama's presidential inauguration, but these books are for very young readers and I think they do a wonderful job at giving as much as they can in the limited page space they are allowed. What Is the Civil Rights Movement? (2020) by Sherri L. Smith, with illustrations by Tim Foley offers the reader a really wide timespan of a huge movement that still is going on to this day.

We all know about Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King, Jr., and maybe even Malcolm X, but I'm glad to see other important people and events showcased here. People like Claudette Colvin, Ida B. Wells, Homer Plessy, Linda Brown, Thurgood Marshall, The Little Rock Nine, Ruby Bridges, James Meredith, Georgia Gilmore, Emmett Till, John Lewis, etc. And important events like The Montgomery Bus Boycott, The Lunch Counter Sit-Ins, Freedom Riders, The Children's Crusade, the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church Bombings, etc.

Yes, it does seem like a lot, but it's all told in very simple terms and is a remarkable springboard into the movement. I also like how well the author dove into the importance of young people's involvement in activism and protests and being the voices of the future. I think kids get toned out from the conversations and they play a huge part in history and its outcome. It's very sad that adults today are trying to silence history so that the atrocities of the past have a greater potential of being repeated. This book offers good timelines and further reading for both adult and young readers to further their understanding. My rating - 5/5

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the series goes, this one is again as comprehensive as a middle grade in the "who was/who it, what was/what is" which needs to provide an overview of what can be a fairly involved person or event.

From my reading, it seems like the major elements are covered including small biographies or major people who created organizations or led people. It also included the major movements or groups like SNCC, the Black Panthers, Malcolm X. It discussed the Freedom Riders. And those that wanted to prevent integration including white southerners like the KKK.

There seems to be a few more illustrations in this one than some of the others but it is complimentary at each pass to the chapters themselves as they move chronologically through and enjoyed the one page story of the "club from Nowhere" especially after watching a virtual program with my young kids about history in which the historian talked about Gilmore and cooked a sweet potato pie while telling the story of the groups fundraising efforts for the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

So much packed into a little book and it was lovely.

[Ayla Stierwalt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is a small book packed with loads of information, again this is for home schooling...... I really like the history in this book they gave you song you could listen to and know what they were singing. I really did not know what they had to go through so I really gain a lot of information. They even wrote about how they are still fighting for rights as of today... again I do not follow the news and I really think that racism is dumb and no I don't think it will ever go away... I really wish it would though. I hope people read these books and really open their eyes and know that we have come a long way and we need to keep moving forward not backwards. 2013 the supreme court overturned parts of the 1965 voting rights act I did not know that. I highly recommend this book to be read all across the world.

[Karlesha sharne’ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very educational! ❤️❤️ It really shows how my people were soo strong, how they endured the toughest treatment so that things will be changed. It shows me that all these years God has been with my people. Maybe in the midst of what they were going through at that time they couldn't see God and couldn't understand what he was doing. Maybe they couldn't detect his hand in the moment, but as I read the timeline of everything we've overcome I see that God was with us the whole time❤️❤️. I see how he answered prayers. How he delivered us from so much adversity . I see that although things still aren't perfect, through him we have overcome so much!!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[John G Diehl · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent primer for students grades 4-8. Objective, factual, excellent sketched illustrations throughout and several pages of actual photographs. Not overly dramatic or graphic, but includes most age-appropriate relevant events, names, dates, and context. It would be greatly enhanced by footnotes providing additional context and background on virtually page, but that might detract from the readability for young readers. Highly recommend, especially for students in school districts that have regrettably chosen or been forced to omit this vital history from the classroom and libraries.

[Georgie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this and also What We're the Negro Leagues by Varian Johnson yesterday and today after watching an interview with both authors yesterday. I was eager to read both because I'm fascinated by both topics. Neither book disappointed. They did what the authors said they wanted to happen...made me want to read more. I'm a school librarian and will recommend both to my students. Next up: what was the Harlem Renaissance and Who we're the Tuskegee Airmen

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - interesting but simplistic (as this series is written for children) Note: it is mentioned that Lincoln ended slavery which he did not (but that is a common misconception in most textbooks). It took the 13th Amendment to end slavery (but also included a punishment loophole for prisoners). The speech, the Emancipation Proclamation, did not have the power to do it.

[Mary T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent summary of the Civil Rights Movement. Wove together the major points while also incorporating some lesser known people like Claudette Colvin. Prompted lots of great discussions with my 10yo and 8yo boys. We read this alongside the memoir Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom (also highly recommend).

[Goddess of Chaos · Rating 4 out of 5]

“If you live and you haven’t stood for anything, you didn’t live for anything, either.”

A really good book about the Civil Rights Movement, written in a conversational tone this covers a lot of territory/history, and includes more recent events highlighting how every generation has a role to play in safe guarding the rights of our citizens.

[Sundee Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent introduction to the Civil Rights Movement. I really like how there were stories about actual people involved in the movement, as well as a more detailed timeline of what was happening and why.

[Vani Ghanate · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart touching book describing the non-violent protests against segregation. Although this book is about 100 pages, it covers the details of a much thicker book in a very concise and yet detailed way.

[Joanne Eglon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't go wrong with these books... Super quick and easy to read but packed with so much information..Enjoy reading them while also improving my knowledge of the subject each book focuses on. Would definitely recommend 💕

[Keely · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great little refresher on our history and a good read to represent Black History Month. I think it is important to use the flow and time line as a starting point to discuss deeper and research more in depth.

[Ashley Jacobsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readers get to relive the moments when African Americans fought for equal rights, and made history.
six traits: word choice
guided reading level: R
lex: 840L

[Karthika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational, collective , peaceful fight for rights

[Joan Osborne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A I eco cause book for kids, and for adults who are unsure of of how the civil rights movement unfolded.

[Mia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was good and informative. The only problem was it was a little bit confusing how they were telling the story.

[K Morlando · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative children's book, we enjoyed learning about this

[Anna Abram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative, well-written, accessible addition to an elementary classroom library

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect for younger readers interested in history.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this with my 9 year old. It was very informative in a way for young children to understand. We liked that they included actual photos in addition to illustrations.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and quick read. Informative.

[Krys · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

[sara]

I chose this book as part of our BHM reading list. We read a few chapters before Mattis asked me to stop reading because of how upsetting this part of our history is.

[Art · Rating 4 out of 5]

Goodreads won't let me add new editions anymore, so I am putting the audio here.

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

What Is the Civil Rights Movement? by Sherri L. Smith
Published December 29, 2020

<3 <3 <3

Relive the moments when African Americans fought for equal rights, and made history.
Even though slavery had ended in the 1860s, African Americans were still suffering under the weight of segregation a hundred years later. They couldn't go to the same schools, eat at the same restaurants, or even use the same bathrooms as white people. But by the 1950s, black people refused to remain second-class citizens and were willing to risk their lives to make a change.
Author Sherri L. Smith brings to life momentous events through the words and stories of people who were on the frontlines of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to this as a family and it brought up a few details I didn't know about and it was nice to have a quick review of all the events and how they played off of each other. My only complaint is that there is so much info to cover in the page number that they try to stick to with these books that it was harder for my kids to follow.