The Silence of Our Friends

Long, Mark, et al.      The Silence of Our Friends    

 Macmillan/ First Second 2012 198p   $16.99      978-1-59643-618-3    

 ms/jr Historical fiction   E-BN   Graphic novel    

This graphic novel takes place in Texas in 1968.  A black professor and a white journalist meet at a Civil Rights rally and slowly become friends as the reporter learns firsthand about the injustices done to people because of the color of their skin. 

                                                                 

The lessons of this book are not so much about what is done to a person of color as what is allowed to happen to a person of color.  Even as the white reporter struggles to get the story behind the Civil Rights Movement and tries to understand why it is happening, the professor struggles with the ignorance of cruelty done to his people simply because their skin is black.  The reporter's children and wife also struggle with the ugly truth.  Their white neighbors are outraged that they socialize with the people of color and begin to ostracize the family, which stands its ground and refuses to be intimidated.  The professor continues to fight for justice and to teach about equality and human rights for all people, especially people of color.

This is a truly excellent graphic novel depicting the rawness and ugliness of racial prejudice.  The children learn a valuable lesson as they learn how nice the professor’s family really is, and eventually they do not even notice that they are different.

This is a must-read for all ages.        

E-BN  Magna Diaz        Graphic novels, Civil Rights movement