Books in Story of the Civil Rights Movement in Photographs series

In September 1957, nine brave African-American students attempted to do something that had not been done in the segregated South—integrate a public school. Until 1957, black students could not attend school with white students, and black schools were often inferior to white schools. However, in the face of hatred, protest, and violence, these courageous students, who came to be known as the Little Rock Nine, led the charge for change. Through riveting primary source photographs, author David Aretha examines this critical time in the Civil Rights Movement.

Martin Luther King, Jr., called Birmingham, Alabama, the most segregated city in America. In 1963, he and other civil rights leaders believed it was time to change that. With marches and protests throughout the city, civil rights activists hoped the movement would draw national attention. Hundreds of young African Americans joined the cause, marching for equal rights. Angry segregationists reacted—violently. And it would play out in newspapers and on television screens across the country. Through dramatic primary source photographs, author David Aretha explores this crucial struggle of the Civil Rights Movement.

Martin Luther King, Jr., called Birmingham, Alabama, the most segregated city in America. In 1963, he and other civil rights leaders believed it was time to change that. With marches and protests throughout the city, civil rights activists hoped the movement would draw national attention. Hundreds of young African Americans joined the cause, marching for equal rights. Angry segregationists reacted—violently. And it would play out in newspapers and on television screens across the country. Through dramatic primary source photographs, author David Aretha explores this crucial struggle of the Civil Rights Movement.

In September 1957, nine brave African-American students attempted to do something that had not been done in the segregated South—integrate a public school. Until 1957, black students could not attend school with white students, and black schools were often inferior to white schools. However, in the face of hatred, protest, and violence, these courageous students, who came to be known as the Little Rock Nine, led the charge for change. Through riveting primary source photographs, author David Aretha examines this critical time in the Civil Rights Movement.

In a landmark case known as Brown v. Board of Education, the US Supreme Court changed American society forever when it ruled that school segregation was unconstitutional. This exciting graphic novel intertwines two tales to illuminate events leading up to this dramatic episode in US history. One is the story of African Americans long struggle for equal rights following the Civil War. The other is the account of the personal struggles and triumphs of Thurgood Marshall, the African American lawyer who argued the case before the Supreme Court. Accessible text and lively illustrations engage readers and help them experience the drama of events as if they were there.

The Montgomery bus boycott was a pivotal event that launched the civil rights movement and helped transform American society. This epic tale of courage and peaceful resistance began with a simple No spoken by an African American seamstress. When Rosa Parks, exhausted after a long day at work, refused to give up her bus seat for a white man, she defied the strict segregation laws that made blacks second-class citizens. What followed was a test of courage and resolve that ultimately reshaped the nation. Using powerful illustrations and accessible text, this exciting graphic novel tells the story of actions, arrests, and the dramatic events that followed.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a momentous victory for civil rights activists. But one major obstacle remained in the path toward equal rights for African Americans: the right to vote. In the South, segregationists prevented African Americans from voting. Civil rights leaders believed it was time for strong action and chose Selma, Alabama, as the rallying point. There, the marches and protests captured the nation’s attention. Through gripping primary source photographs, author David Aretha explores this important time in American history.

In Montgomery, Alabama, segregation was a way of life for African Americans. Rosa Parks, riding the bus after a long day of work, was tired of it. When the bus driver demanded Parks leave her seat for a white man, she refused. The police arrested her. Her courage ignited a boycott of Montgomery’s buses, one of the great protests that sparked the Civil Rights Movement. Through dramatic primary source photographs, author David Aretha explores this pivotal moment in American history.

Bombs. Clubs. Metal pipes. Severe beatings. Angry segregationists. This is what the Freedom Riders faced when they journeyed into the Deep South to integrate the interstate buses and terminals. Civil rights activists, black and white, understood the dangers of the Freedom Rides. They knew opposition would be fierce, but they did not care. It was worth the risk in the pursuit of African-American rights. Through captivating primary source photographs, author David Aretha examines this fight for equality in the Civil Rights Movement.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was a momentous victory for civil rights activists. But one major obstacle remained in the path toward equal rights for African Americans: the right to vote. In the South, segregationists prevented African Americans from voting. Civil rights leaders believed it was time for strong action and chose Selma, Alabama, as the rallying point. There, the marches and protests captured the nation’s attention. Through gripping primary source photographs, author David Aretha explores this important time in American history.