Bausum, Ann. Freedom Riders:
John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement
. Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2006. This thoroughly researched book examines The Freedom Rides, an important part of the Civil Rights movement. Many lesser known characters from the movement are discussed in this well–written young adult book.
Bridges, Ruby,
Through My Eyes
. New York: Scholastic Books, 1999. This award winning children's book is an autobiographical account of one of the youngest and bravest figures to come out of the Civil Rights era.
Carson, Clayborne, editor.
The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr
. New York: Time Warner Books,1998. This classic autobiography of the leading figure of the Civil Rights Movement gives insightful details into the many "moments of glory" that King experienced during the movement.
Crowe, Chris.
Getting Away with Murder; The True Story of the Emmett Till Case
. New York: Penguin Books, 2003. This detailed telling of the tragic story of the murder of Emmett Till is required reading for 8
th
grade students in the city of New Haven. Crowe's account of the murder and subsequent trial of Roy Bryant and JW Milam is a fascinating look at one of the sparks that flamed the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s.
Fletcher, Ralph.
A Writer's Notebook: Unlocking the Writer Within You
. New York: HarperCollins, 1996. In this excellent resource on how to set up a writer's notebook, Fletcher offers several excellent ideas for use in journal writing.
Haley, Alex.
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
. New York: Ballantine Books, 1964. This autobiography is an interesting look into one of the most controversial figures of the Civil Rights movement. The book was also made into a movie which should be utilized by students during preparation for role playing.
King, Coretta Scott.
My Life with Martin Luther King, Jr
. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1969. The wife of Martin Luther King writes of inspiring and trying years with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Coretta Scott King may also serve as the focus of students' research in this unit.
Levy, Peter B. Let
Freedom Ring: A Documentary History of the Modern Civil Rights Movement
. Westport: Praeger Books, 1992. Subtitled
A Documentary History of the Civil Rights Movement
, this book utilizes firsthand accounts of participants to trace the development of the Civil Rights Movement.
Marable, Manning.
Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention
. New York: Viking Books, 2011. This well–researched biography on one of the most controversial figures of the Civil Rights Movement taps into numerous resources to tell the story of Malcolm X as it has never been told before.
Powledge, Fred.
Free at Last? The Civil Rights Movement and the People Who Made it
. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1991. In a style reminiscent of the work of Studs Terkel, Powledge retraces the events of the Civil Rights Movement as seen and reported by the lesser known participants and witnesses.