Brimmer, Larry Dane. Twelve Days In May.

Brimmer, Larry Dane. Twelve Days In May. Boyd's Mills/Calkins Creek  2017  109p.  $18.95  ISBN 978-1-62979-586-7            ms/hs  Nonfiction  E-BN

This slim volume succinctly captures the background and reasons for the first Freedom Ride, an effort to test federal laws enacted to reduce racial discrimination, describing its participants and the events that occurred as Riders on two buses traveled from Washington D.C. to New Orleans. The best page of this book for researchers is the one-page listing of participants, their ethnic backgrounds, and a short sentence on the background of each one. This feature enables easy reference when the events listing specific Riders' names are discussed. The resoluteness of their belief in desegregation as mandated by federal law, their ability to behave nonviolently, and the fierceness of their opponents are all vividly captured through photos and quotations. The last chapter tells of the 1947 Journey of Reconciliation, a precursor to the Freedom Rides, and provides an update on the lives of the first Freedom Riders subsequent to their historic bus ride.     

Summary: The first Freedom Ride, an effort to test federal laws enacted to reduce discrimination in May 1961, comes alive with succinct descriptions of events, black-and-white photos, and quotes of Freedom Riders and their opponents. Grades 5-12.                                   

Civil Rights, Discrimination, Freedom Riders     --Lois McNicol

Brimmer, Larry Dane Twelve Days In May

Brimmer, Larry Dane            Twelve Days In May Boyd's Mills/Calkins Creek  2017   109p   18.95  978-1-62979-586-7            ms/hs             E-BN            

The first Freedom Ride, an effort to test federal laws enacted to reduce discrimination, in May 1961 comes alive with succinct descriptions of events, black and white photos and quotes of Freedom Riders and their opponents. Grades 5-12.          

This slim volume succinctly captures the background and reasons for the first Freedom Ride, an effort to test federal laws enacted to reduce racial discrimination, its participants and events that occurred as Riders on two buses travel from the Washington D.C. to New Orleans. The best page of this book for researchers is the one page listing of each participant, their race, and a short sentence of their background. This feature makes for easy reference when events listing specific Riders names are discussed. The resoluteness of their belief in desegregation as allowed by federal law, their ability to be nonviolent, and the fierceness of their opponents is all vividly captured through photos and quotations. A last chapter tells of the 1947 Journey of Reconciliation, a precursor to the Freedom Rides, and provides an update on the lives of the first Freedom Riders after their historic bus ride.                                     McNicol(3),Lois          Civil Rights, 1960s, Discrimination, Freedom Riders

Port Chicago 50.

Sheinkin, Steve.  Port Chicago 50.  Macmillan/Roaring Brook Press  2014 193p  $19.99  ISBN 978-1-59643-796-8  ms/hs  Nonfiction  E-BN

This book depicts an astounding event that changed the course of American history.  Steve Sheinkin believes he stumbled on the Port Chicago 50 accidentally while researching another book; readers will think he was meant to tell the story of a group of African Americans that was treated unfairly by the U. S. Navy, for he tells the story with an excellent narrative writing style and organizational ability.  Assigned to load bombs and other explosive materials at Port Charles, a group of African Americans had the courage to stand up for their rights after a huge explosion killed more than 300 men.  Many refused to work after the explosion, challenging the commands of their white superiors.  They were wrongfully blamed for causing a mutiny, especially Joe Small, the alleged ringleader.  Under conditions that would have broken lesser men, the Port Chicago 50 endured defeat in a trial at the hands of a segregated navy who convinced itself that its way was the right way.  Without the determination of the fifty, the support they received from young lawyer Thurgood Marshall, and advocates such as Eleanor Roosevelt, family members and other groups like the NAACP, these fifty might have remained in jail and been afforded a negative place in history.  Instead, they retained their dignity, never giving up despite untold unfair conditions and bigotry. 

All great movements -- in this case, the civil rights movement – have precursors.   This story is enhanced by powerful quotations and photographs which, when combined with Sheinkin’s attention to detail, add a new voice to American history.                  

Summary: This book depicts an astounding event that changed the course of American history, the story of the Port Chicago 50.  Assigned to load bombs and other explosive materials at Port Charles, a group of African Americans had the courage to stand up for their rights after an explosion killed more than 300 men, and endured defeat in the navy trial that followed, paving the way for the nascent Civil Rights Movement.    

Civil rights, African Americans                 -–Martha Squaresky