"When it comes to justice, there is no easy way to get it. You can't sugarcoat it. You have to take a stand and say, 'This is not right.'" - Claudette Colvin. On March 2, 1955, an impassioned teenager, fed up with the daily injustices of Jim Crow segregation, refused to give her seat to a white woman on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama.
The March Against Fear by Ann Bausum
Call Number: 323.1196 BAU
In 1966, an African American man named James Meredith set out to walk through his home state of Mississippi, intending to fight racism and fear with his feet. But two days into his journey, Meredith was shot and wounded in a roadside attack. Within twenty-four hours, Martin Luther King, Jr., Stokely Carmichael, and other civil rights leaders had taken up Meredith's cause.
March Book One by John Lewis
Call Number: Graphic Novel
The early life of Congressman John Lewis, from his youth in rural Alabama, to the Freedom Rides and lunch counter sit-ins, to his meeting with Martin Luther King Jr.
Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom by Lynda Blackmon Lowery
Call Number: 323.11 LOW
As the youngest marcher in the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Albama, Lynda Blackmon Lowery proved that young adults can be heroes. Jailed nine times before her fifteenth birthday, Lowery fought alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. for the rights of African-Americans.
Twelve Days in May by Larry Dane Brimner
Call Number: 323.1196 BRI
On May 4, 1961, a group of thirteen black and white civil rights activists launched the Freedom Ride, aiming to challenge the practice of segregation on buses and at bus terminal facilities in the South.
We've Got a Job by Cynthia Y. Levinson
Call Number: 323.1196 LEV
The inspiring story of one of the greatest moments in civil rights history as seen through the eyes of four young people who were at the center of the action. The 1963 Birmingham Children's March was a turning point in American history.
Who Marched for Civil Rights? by Richard Spilsbury
Call Number: 323.1196 SPI
This book shows how we know about the marchers and their experiences from primary and other sources. It includes information on some historical detective work that has taken place, using documentary and oral evidence, that has enabled historians to piece together the fascinating story of the civil rights marches.
Legislation and Government
Brown V. Board of Education by Susan Goldman Rubin
Call Number: 344.73 RUB
In 1954, one of the most significant Supreme Court decisions of the twentieth century aimed to end school segregation in the United States.
Disability Rights Movement by Tim McNeese
Call Number: 342.7308 MCN
Presents arguments pertaining to the rights of the disabled, examining how the courts have shaped issues such as eugenic sterilization, special education, and equal access to public places through rulings, with primary sources from each case, dissenting opinions, and analyses.
Every Human Has Rights by National Geographic Editors
Call Number: 341.4 EVE
The 30 rights set down in 1948 by the United Nations are incredibly powerful. Every Human Has Rights offers a written list of these rights, commentary by other kids, and photography illustrating each right.
Fault Lines in the Constitution by Cynthia Levinson; Sanford Levinson
Call Number: 342.7302 LEV
Looks at the history of the writing of the United States Constitution, discussing that the nation is still suffering from the consequences of disputes and decisions made in 1787, as the new government was being created.
Forms of Government and the Rise of Democracy by Brian Duignan
Call Number: 321 FOR
Examines the various forms of government that have developed around the world, with a special focus on the ascension of democracy.
In Defense of Liberty by Russell Freedman
Describes the origins, applications of, and challenges to the ten amendments to the United States Constitution that comprise the Bill of Rights.
Let Me Play by Karen Blumenthal
Up until the 1970s, if you were a girl, you were told you shouldn't play team sports, or go to college. But, in 1972, Title IX changed that, by ensuring that girls have the same opportunities as boys to participate in sports and classes. But that change did not come without a fight.
Native Americans and the U. S. Government by Joanne Mattern
Describes the years of conflict between Native Americans and European settlers, and briefly mentions some attempts by the United States government to make amends for some of the injustices the Indians have suffered.
Political Systems, Structures, and Functions by Brian Duignan (Editor)
Call Number: 320.3 POL
Examines the various types, structures, and functions of government around the world, as well as the evolution of political systems and the factors contributing to their rise and fall.
The U. S. Constitution and Bill of Rights by Charles E. Pederson
Examines the making of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights.
Fight for Rights
Black Lives Matter by Sue Bradford Edwards
Call Number: 305.896 EDW
Black Lives Matter covers the shootings that touched off passionate protests, the work of activists to bring about a more just legal system, and the tensions in US society that these events have brought to light.
Disability Rights Movement by Tim McNeese
Call Number: 342.7308 MCN
Presents arguments pertaining to the rights of the disabled, examining how the courts have shaped issues such as eugenic sterilization, special education, and equal access to public places through rulings, with primary sources from each case, dissenting opinions, and analyses.
The Fight for Latino Civil Rights by Barbara C. Cruz
Call Number: 323.119 CRU
Learn about Latino history in the United States, from the missionary Father Junípero Serra to the activist César Chávez to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, and the continuing struggle for equality and justice.
Indigenous Peoples' Rights by Katie Marsico
Call Number: 323.11 MAR
An examination of the rights of indigenous peoples and related issues, discussing life on a Lakota reservation, political independence, cultural survival, poverty, fair trade, and more.
Transgender Rights and Issues by Andrea Pelleschi
Call Number: 306.76 PEL
Transgender Rights and Issues covers the growing acceptance of the transgender community throughout the years, the discrimination transgender men and women face each day, and how US and other countries are making changes to fix these issues.
Women's Rights Movement by Jennifer Joline Anderson
Call Number: 305.42 AND
Chronicles the history of the Women's Rights Movement in America that describes the events and people responsible for changing the face of the nation including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, the Temperance and Suffrage movements, and the Equal Rights Amendment.
Youth Activism
Girls Resist! by KaeLyn Rich
Call Number: 305.42 RIC
An activism handbook for teen girls ready to fight for change, social justice, and equality.
It's Our World, Too! by Phillip Hoose
Call Number: 302 HOO
Stories of young people who have made a difference in their community are combined with a handbook that offers tip on how to get started.
You Are Mighty by Caroline Paul
Call Number: 306 PAU
Being a good citizen means standing up for what's right--and here's just the way to start.