Civil Rights Bibliography
Pam Barr
4/16/12
History H575/A300
Title: Civil Rights-Tolerance/Intolerance
Introduction
My subject is Civil Rights in America and will be taught to elementary students in grade 6. This classroom community is made up of 8 boys and 12 girls. One reason for doing this unit with this group of students is because they struggle with the idea of tolerance. Through the teaching of civil rights the students will begin to comprehend the meaning tolerance and intolerance. In this unit students will focus on the causes leading to and surrounding the events which led to the Civil Rights Movement. It will emphasize tolerance and intolerance among particular races of people. Students will be able to see the Civil Rights movement as a culminating result of slavery. Through simulations students will unpack the concept of tolerance. They will research slavery, resulting in an understanding through empathy and self-knowledge of segregation. They will also investigate using primary and secondary sources and several factors, including the Jim Crow laws leading to the Civil Rights movement.
Books for Kids/Read Alouds
Hinson, Rosa Parks with Jim. Rosa Parks: My Story. New York: Dial Books,1992.
This book is a great book to use for researching Rosa Parks. My students had to choose a civil rights figure and present and this is the book that was found to be a great resource. Rosa tells of the occurrences of the time (1950) in her own words. This book also introduces many other important figures of the civil rights era such as: Robert Abernathy, Martin Luther King Jr. and Marian Anderson, just to name a few. This book also uses real photographs of Rosa, the occurrences, and the people to tell the story of the Civil Rights Era. Rosa’s own words help to involve you in the emotion of the story and they help to complete an understanding of her character.I would recommend this book for grades 4,5, and 6.
Rappaport, Doreen.Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. New York, New York:Hyperion Books for Children, 2001.
This biography was also used as a resource for students in my class for a presentation at the end of a civil rights unit. Rappaport uses Martin’s own words and his life story together so you get a rich understanding of where he stood and why. Bryan Collier has beautifully illustratedhumble pictures that fittingly demonstrate Martin’s life and the era. I would recommend this book for a read aloud for grades K-6 and for researching Martin’s character.
Bridges, Ruby. Through My Eyes. New York, New York: Scholastic Press, 1999.
Told through Ruby’s own words and real photographs, this book tells her life story from how she was raised through her courageous walk through the doors of her new all white school. This story explains what Ruby experienced and how she felt about the experience of integration. I would recommend this book for grades K-6 and it is also a great resource for understanding Ruby’s character and the history of the Civil Rights movement.
Coles, Robert. The Story of Ruby Bridges.New York, New York: Scholastic, Inc., 1995.
Robert Coles does a great job with this story about Ruby Bridges. I would recommend this book for a read aloud for primary classes. This colorfully illustrated story tells Ruby’s story of courage and bravery while attending an all-white elementary school. This narrative is endorsed by Ruby and correctly depicts the events of her journey to a new all-white school in the year of 1960.
Cohen, Barbara. Thank you, Jackie Robinson. New York, New York: First Beech Tree Edition, 1974.
This story tells of two boys who have nothing in common but a favorite baseball team (Brooklyn Dodgers). Through the death of his father and Jackie Robison’s triumphant barrier breakthrough the two friends realize they are not as different as they first thought. Sports and heroes helped them to understand that equal rights should be fought for. This story shares many years of baseball historical facts through a heartwarming journey of friendship. This a great book for a read aloud to discuss how people surrounding us influence us and our behavior. I would recommend this book for 2-6 graders.
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Websites.
Watchmojo. youtube. February 2, 2011. (accessed February 17, 2012).
This video shares the Civil Rights history from the end of the Civil War. This video shares real picture from many of the most important events of the Civil Rights movement. The video is 5 minutes long and is a great introduction to the beginning of a unit. It discusses the struggles and unfair treatment of African Americans through this timeline. I would recommend this video for 4-6 grades.
Birmingham City of. May 25,1951. Racial Segregation Ordinances, Birmingham, Alabama, May, 1951. (accessed February 23, 2012).
The following document is the harsh reality of laws and ordinances that were put into writing to prevent whites and blacks from being integrated during the 1950’s. This document from the city of Birmingham, Alabama shares boundaries and guidelines and where and what people are allowed to go and what they were allowed to do. This piece is extremely eye opening to students who struggle to believe that this ever happened. I recommend this document as a resource for grades 4-6.
Articles about James Chaney, New York Times. January 20, 2012).
This resource is newspaper articlestelling about the James Chaney story. Through the New York Times archives you can view many different articles written about James Chaney and the events leading to his horrible death. I used this resource for students to research information about this killing and for them to investigate the brutal treatment of people who supported equal rights for African Americans. This website is a great tool for the students to learn the story and learn the value of newspaper writing. I would recommend this site for use with 5th and 6th grade students.
Primary Sources
LL.DBishop H.M. TurnerD.D.; “Documenting the American South.”Library of Congress. American Memory. 1889.
(accessed April 25, 2012).
This website and document by Mr. Turner, author, civil rights leader, and a church bishop explains the anger and disgust African Americans had with our U.S. Supreme Court decisions against African Americans. This document is great evidence to share with student’s grades 3-6 of the historic battles that African Americans fought to gain freedom and equality. I would recommend this as a website and documental evidence of the depth of the battle that African Americans had to fight.
“Words and Deeds in American History.” Library of Congress. American
Memory.” August 28,1963. 1984).
This resource is a copy of Martin Luther King’s famous “I have a Dream” speech in Washington. This resource is a piece of writing that students can use to follow along with as the students listen to the youtube video of him delivering his speech. I have found that they hear his words but they are very powerful if they can read them too. I recommend using this document with 5th grade and older students.
“The National Center for Public Policy Research's Constitution and the Courts Archive.” Brown vs. Board of Education. 1954.The National Center for public policy rese (accessed April 16, 2012).
This resource is a court document that can be shared with students so that they get the opportunity to see and hear the language of the Supreme Court system in a historical case. This document shares the unequal treatment of black children in receiving an education in their public school system. It allows students to discuss the Plessy vs. Ferguson decision to the reality of what was still needed to be equal. I recommend this document to be used with Civil Rights education for grades 5 and higher.
Secondary Sources
Incomeexperts. youtube. August 28, 1963. (accessed January 16, 2012).
This resource is a 17 minute video clip of Martin Luther King’s “I have a Dream” address at the march of Washington. It shows real sound and footage of the historical event allowing students to see the magnitude of Dr. King’s words and leadership.
Wade22.youtube. April 12, 2007.
This resource is an 8 minute video clip of the timeline of Civil Rights history slavery through present time to Match Box Twenty’s, You won’t be Mine. This video shares all the important points in history.Great resource for grades 4-6.
Missionpeace. youtube. February 12, 2008.
This resource is a 2 minute video clip of the Malcolm X interview on Dr. Martin Luther King stance on segregation. Malcolm contrasts his views on integration of African Americans and the American Society. I would recommend this video for comparing and contrasting the two Civil Rights leaders to grades 5 and up.
Teachers Resources
“Bafa-Bafa: A Diversity Cross Cultural Simulation Training System.” Learning Through Experience. Del Mar, CA: 2001.
Bafa-Bafa is a powerful simulation of what occurs when cultures collide. Participants are asked to learn a culture then are integrated into a new culture without any way to communicate or understanding of how they work. I used this activity with my students as an opening for our Civil Rights study and it was powerful. Students realize that there are many cultures in our own communities and they see how important it is to be tolerant. I would recommend this activity for 3 through adult age participants.
Cagin, Seth and Philip Dray. We Are not Afraid. New York: Macmillian Publishing Company. 1988.
This book tells about the powerful story of the three Civil Rights activists, James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner and how they were brutally killed by the Ku Klux Klan. This story led to the making of the movie “Mississippi Burning,” which led to the recent investigation of Edward Killen. This book explains the incredible fight of lots of people to get equal rights for all through the Civil Rights movement. I used this resource to tell this story to student and used it facts and details to guide my teaching. I would recommend this resource to all adults.
Blackside. American Express: Eyes of the Prize. August 23, 2006. (accessed February 14,2012).
This website sharesmany major events of the Civil Rights Movement. The stories were told in the Eyes on the Prize television series. Various resources are used to tell the storiesof the Civil Rights movement including: newspaper clippings, music, video, image galleries, and quotes from people involved in the movement. I would recommend this resource to grades 3 and older.
Pitney, David Howard, Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and the Civil Rights Struggle of the 1950’s and 1960’s, A Brief History with Documents. Boston, MA: Bedford/St. Martin. 2004.
This book is a great primary source for teachers to use as a guide for sharing the exact words of Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcom X. I used this resource with students to compare and contrast the character of both these important Civil rights leaders. The quotes and sayings in this book well- known and they accurately describe the journey of these two famous leaders during this time in history.
Sabby100. youtube. Eyes on the Prize. August 31, 2011. (accessed April 20, 2012).
This video tells the story of African Americans fight to win civil rights in 1952. It shares original footage of organized fights such as riots and sit-ins that were brutally halted by white Americans. This 54 minute video also exposes you to many Civil Rights Activists of this time period so students see their work. I recommend this video for 4th grade through older students.
Ball, Howard. Murder in Mississippi. United States: University Press of Kansas. 2004.
This resource is another great book written about the story of the three Civil Rights activists James Chaney, Michael Schwerner, and Andrew Goodman. In this book Howard Ball examines the difficulty of the court case and convicting the Ku Klux Klan. He discusses the evidence what there is and what there is not and how protected this case was because lots of town people are involved in the cover-up. Students will see with discussion of excerpts from this book some more evidence of the hurdles civil rights activists had to overcome. This book was also a motivator for the movie, “Mississippi Burning,” which also helped in reopening the case against Ku Klux Klan man, Edward Killen. I would recommend this resource to all adults teaching the Civil Rights movement.
Wheeler, Marjorie Spruill. One Woman, One Vote. Troutdale, OR. Newsage Press.1995.
This book is a compilation of writings and occurrences of famous women of the Women’s Suffrage movement.Wheeler shares the struggles both of the leaders and the women who fought with them such as: Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Alice Paul. This is a fascinating story of courage of women who were also sometimes ostracized for their outwardly positions on women’s rights. I recommend this book as a resource to teachers for their information to help explain the difficulties many women had in the fight for equal rights.
Martin Luther King Research and Education Center.2004. April 20, 2012).
This resource is a multitude of educational resources to help the teacher understand and teach about Martin Luther King. This web page has lesson plans, photos, video, and speeches to use to guide the teaching of Dr. King. This is a great resource for secondary sources.
Music
Simone, Nina. I Wish I Knew (How It Would Feel to Be Free).Comp. Dr. Billy Taylor and Dick Dallas. 1967.
Nina used her music to support the ideas of the civil rights movement. Simone wrotethis song in 1967 with Dr. Billy Taylor (along with Dick Dallas), and she recorded it that same year. It became one of the famous songs of the movement. Listen to Simone’s song at:
Green, Grant. His Majesty King Funk, Selma March. Comp. Grant Green. 1965.
This 1965 song represented the march for voting rights. It was written in celebration of the completion of the 3rd successful march. Civil Rights activists were elated that they finally felt success in the pursuit of equal rights. So, Grant Green and many other jazz artists at the time wrote this soulful jazzy tune in celebration. Watch a video of the song at:
Cook, Sam. This Little Light of Mine.Comp. Zilphia Horton. New York. 1964.
Activist Zilphia Horton presented this children's gospel song to the civil-rights movement in the 1950s. In the '60s, vocalist Sam Cook took this song that people were singing at sit-ins and marches and made it popular. Cooke performed this song at many venues in support of civil rights. You can listen to a recording of this song at:
Golding, Larry. We Shall Overcome. Comp. Larry Golding. New York. 1963.
This song was considered the Civil Rights movement theme song. At many of the organized fights the activist would sing this song in support of their efforts. This recording by pianist Larry Golding became a popular easy listening for the 60’s music era.
Conclusion
In conclusion to this lesson the students and I have a better understanding of what happens when cultures collide. We realize if cultures are not treated equally and introduced appropriately it can be disastrous. But we also know that cultures can learn new ideas and solutions if we open our minds and allow it to happen. We learned that change can take a lot of time and years of efforts before you see it. Our knowledge of the past helps us understand the present and make decisions about the future.
Lastly, the goal is for students to comprehend tolerance and intolerance and be able to see and show evidence in support of their perspective. We agree that intolerance doesn’t look good on us and that it doesn’t feel good either. After hundreds of years of history built in with horrific racial hate we can conclude that we have a lot of work that needs to be done to continue to solve this problem.
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