Kids can make a difference.
That’s exactly what the children and teens of Birmingham, Alabama did in 1963. They marched for their civil rights and changed the world.
They faced fear and hate. They marched in place of their parents who were afraid of losing their jobs. Dr. Martin Luther King knew the children were not too young to want their freedom. He said, “Let the Children march. They will lead the way”.
On May 2, 1963 the children protested and marched. They joined hands, sang the songs of freedom, faced danger and were thrown in jail. They didn’t stop until things started to change.
It takes courage to stand up for what’s right.
Monica Clark-Robinson’s picture book opened my eyes to the role of the Children’s Crusade in changing America’s history. We learn about the segregation of black people from the perspective of a child who couldn’t play on the same playground as white kids and couldn’t go to the same school. Frank Morrison’s beautiful illustrations bring the story to life. There’s a historical time line to put the march in context of what happened in 1963 to bring about the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
I can’t believe how brave these children were and the pivotal part they played in desegregation inspires me.
This book empowers children to make a difference in whatever way they can. Whether it be through volunteering, writing a letter to an official, fundraising, educating themselves or starting a petition. We can all be activists. These brave children give us courage and hope.
We can all stand up for what’s right!
Helps with: empowering children to make a difference, understanding racism and the civil rights movement, appreciating black history, finding courage to stand up for what’s right, introduction to activism and marching for freedom, fairness, children’s role in changing systems.
Author: Monica Clark-Robinson
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2018