Klarman, Michael J., From Jim Crow to Civil Rights: The Supreme Court and the Struggle for Racial Equality. Oxford University Press (2004). Gives insight into the civil rights struggle and the political, social, and economic ramifications of Supreme Court legislation/decisions.
Pattillo Beals, Melba. Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High. Simon Pulse Press, New York (1995). Available in audio-book format, can be used as a core-reading resource.
Strum, Philippa. Mendez v. Westminster: School Desegregation and Mexican American Rights. University Press of Kansas, April 2010. Vividly conveys the first federal court case in which segregation in education was successfully challenged.
Woodward, C. Vann. The Strange Career of Jim Crow: A Commemorative Edition with a New Afterword by William S. McFeely. Oxford University Press, New York (2002). A historical work that analyzes the history and impact of Jim Crow laws.
Children's Book Resources
Adoff, Arnold and Brooks, Gwendolyn. Poetry of Black America: Anthology of the 20
th
Century. Harper Collins Children's Books, NY (1973). A wonderful, 584-page collection of poetic work by contemporary African American poets. Lexile Level: 730L
Bridges, Ruby. Ruby Bridges Goes to School. Cartwheel Books, New York (2009). Rich in photos, this autobiographic recount is appropriate for emergent and beginning readers. Lexile Level: 410L
____________. Through My Eyes. The Story of Ruby Bridges. Scholastic Press, New York (1995). A enlightening read and glimpse into the life of the sole African American child to attend a New Orleans elementary school after court-ordered desegregation in 1960. Lexile Level: 860L
Coleman, Evelyn. White Socks Only, Albert Whitman & Company (January 1996) – A courageous little girl + a water fountain marked "Whites Only" in segregated Mississippi results in an emotionally charged realistic fiction narrative worth the read. Rich in figurative language. Lexile Level: 630L.
Johnson, Angela. The Sweet Smell of Roses. Simon & Schuster, New York (2009). A beautifully illustrated work and tribute to those who stood on the front lines of the civil right marches. Lexile Level: 410L
Levinson, Cynthia. We've Got A Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March. Scholastic, Inc., New York. (February 2012) Photographic account of tumultuous moments in "Bombingham" ("Birmingham"), Alabama, and the courageous efforts of 4,000 youth who boycotted school to participate in a march to protest segregation. Available in audiotape format. Lexile Level: 1020L.
Littlesugar, Amy. Freedom School, Yes! A moving glimpse into the Mississippi Freedom School experience, and the courageous young people who helped fight against inequities in education during the civil rights era. Lexile Level: 750L.
Pinkney, Andrea Davis. Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood UP by Sitting Down. Little, Brown, & Company. New York (2009). This Is The Dream. An inspiring message for children celebrating non-violent change written in poetic form. Lexile Level: 500L
Shore, Diane Z. and Alexander, Jessica. This Is The Dream This expository, poetic work that chronicles societal/life-changing events preceding, during, and following the civil rights movement. A must have item for the classroom library. Lexile Level: 700L
Van Der Zee, Ruth. Mississippi Morning. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, Grand Rapids, MI (August 13, 2004) A riveting tale re: the double-edged sword of racism; engaging illustrations by Floyd Cooper can be used to spark much debate. Lexile Level: 700L
Weatherford, Carole Boston. Freedom on the Menu. Lunch-counter desegregation efforts are brought to life in this historical narrative. Lexile Level: 650L
Wiles, Deborah. Freedom Summer. Aladdin Press, Inc., (January 2005). A historical fiction piece surrounding desegregation in the South as seen through the eyes of eight year old. Lexile Level: 650L
Young-Shelton, Paula. Child of the Civil Rights Movement. Schwartz & Wade, Inc. (December 2009) Daughter of civil rights activist Andrew Young recounts what it was like growing up in the midst of the tumultuous civil right era. Lexile Level: 960L
