Synopses & Reviews
In the nineteen fifties and early sixties, Birmingham, Alabama, became known as Bombingham. At the center of this violent time in the fight for civil rights, and standing at opposite ends, were Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor. From his pulpit, Shuttlesworth agitated for racial equality, while Commissioner Connor fought for the status quo. Relying on court documents, police and FBI reports, newspapers, interviews, and photographs, author Larry Dane Brimner first covers each man's life and then brings them together to show how their confrontation brought about significant change to the southern city. The author worked closely with Birmingham's Civil Rights Institute as well as with Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and his wife to bring together this Robert F. Sibert Honor Book, ALA Notable Childrens book, and Kirkus Reviews Best Childrens Book of the Year.
Review
"Bombed, beaten, banned, and imprisoned, Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth led the civil rights struggle for equality in Birmingham, Alabama, using nonviolent action to protest segregation in schools, stores, buses, and the hiring of police officers. He pressed his congregation to register to vote and to cast their ballots for civil rights supporters. Eugene 'Bull' Connor, backed by the Ku Klux Klan, became a symbol of racist hatred and violence as he organized the southern segregationists to rally against Shuttlesworth. With a spacious design that includes archival pictures and primary source documents on almost every page, this accessible photo-essay recounts the events in three sections that focus first on the preacher, then on the commissioner, and finally, on their confrontation. . . . A penetrating look at elemental national history."--Booklist, starred review
Review
"A fascinating look at one of the most crucial places and periods in the civil rights movement through two polar opposites."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Review
* andquot;For readers new to the subject, the biographies will be a vivid, informative introduction, but even those who have some familiarity with the landmark events will learn much more here. . . . A penetrating look at elemental national history.andquot; --Booklist, starred review
Review
* andquot;A clean, graphically interesting design abets a well-researched, engaging narrative that contributes a more nuanced view of the period than is often seen. (author's note, further reading, source notes, index)andquot; --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
Review
"Can stand alongside Russell Freedman's Freedom Walkers (Holiday House, 2006) and Brimner's own Birmingham Sunday (Calkins Creek, 2010) as fine examples of both civil-rights history and photo-biographies." --School Library Journal
Review
* "A captivating biography. . . . A gem for students studying the Civil Rights Movement and an excellent addition to any American history collection." --School Library Connection, starred review
Review
"Bayard Rustin's role is too often left out of young people's history books. . . . Larry Dane Brimner brings to readers in stirring fashion Rustin's lifelong consistent commitment to Gandhi's non-violence." --Chicago Tribune
Review
"A fascinating volume, informative and well written. . . . An excellent addition to that growing body of literature about the Civil Rights movement." --Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
A riveting account of the racially-charged events that shook Birmingham, AL in the '50's and '60's, focusing on the lives and interactions of two key figures: Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth, pastor of the Bethel Baptist church and founder of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Eugune Bull Conner, city commissioner and segregationist. Following the critical success of Birmingham Sunday, noted author Larry Dane Brimner weaves together a plethora of primary source archival material to create a fascination portrait of American Civil Right history: oral histories, court documents, police and FBI reports, newspaper clippings, and interviews with Rev. Shuttlesworth and his wife.
Synopsis
Bayard Rustin dedicated his life to helping others—fighting injustices and discriminations—so that people could live as one. Protesting segregation long before there was a civil rights movement, he often was arrested for his beliefs and actions. As a nonviolent activist, Bayard made his mark working alongside many African American leaders, notably A. Philip Randolph and Martin Luther King, Jr. As an organizer, Bayard was largely responsible for bringing people together to walk for freedom and jobs in Washington, D.C., on that memorable summer day, August 28, 1963. With style and careful attention to history, Larry Dane Brimner captures a story of passion, courage, and triumph through Bayard's own words and archival photographs in this Jane Addams Children's Book Award winner.
About the Author
Larry Dane Brimner is the award-winning author of two other civil rights titles: We Are One: The Story of Bayard Rustin (Jane Addams Book Award and the Norman A. Sugarman Children's Biography Award) and Birmingham Sunday, (2011 NCTE Orbis Pictus Honor Book and the Teacher's Choice Award.) He lives in Tucson, Arizona.