Informed & Inspired A MONTHLY UPDATE FOR THE LIBRARY’S MOST AWESOME ADVOCATES: KIDS!
Let’s Talk About Civil Rights! Civil Rights are freedoms and protections granted to members of a society by their government. These include the right to vote, to go to school, to own property, and to get married. These may seem like common sense – everyone should be able to do those things, right? But throughout history, people have had to speak up and fight for these basic opportunities. Check this out, then keep reading to learn more:
Voting The U.S. was established in 1776, but the right to vote wasn’t granted to Black citizens until 1870. Even then, only the men could vote. No women could vote until 1920. Even after the 15th Amendment granted Black Americans the right to vote, there were still laws in place to make it harder for them to do so until 1965.
School
perty Pro
rriage Ma
Until at least 1954, Black children could not go to the same schools as white children. They received less money for teacher pay and books, and they often had school in homes and churches because they didn’t even have a building to use.
Black Americans could legally buy property as early as 1866, but until 1968 there were many legal but unfair practices that kept them from being able to do so.
Members of the LGBTQIA+ community weren’t guaranteed the right to get married in all 50 states until 2015.
PAGE 2
Talk about it! THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT Until the Civil Rights Act of 1964, there were many laws in place that limited Black Americans’ freedoms and made it legal for employers, banks, and business owners to treat them differently. These laws were called Jim Crow laws. Treating someone differently because of something like race, religion, lifestyle, or gender is called discrimination. Many businesses even refused to serve Black customers, and schools were segregated, which means that Black kids and white kids had to go to different schools and shop at different stores. During the Civil Rights Movement, many people participated in nonviolent protests to fight back against discrimination and segregation. It seems like a really long time ago, but your grandparents may have been around during this time! You can ask them what they know about it. The pictures below show what segregation looked like.
https://lsintspl3.wgbh.org/en-us/lesson/gpb20-il-civilrights/1
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/traffic-atlanta-segregation.html
https://emke.uwm.edu/entry/educational-segregation-and-desegregation/
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/08/14/magazine/traffic-atlanta-segregation.html
This video explains more about Jim Crow laws. Watch it with an adult. What did these laws do? Why was that unfair? What would it look like today if this were still happening? https://high.org/exhibition/gordon-parks-segregation-story/
PAGE 3
Learn more about civil rights! WANT TO KNOW MORE? CHECK THESE OUT!
Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Civil liberties are a lot like civil rights. Watch this video to learn how civil liberties are protected in the founding documents of the United States.
This Crash Course episode goes a little deeper in their explanation of civil liberties.
The Civil Rights Movement
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was a leader in the Civil Rights Movement. He was so important that now his birthday is a holiday that we celebrate every January!
John Lewis was another leader of the Civil Rights Movement. You can learn more about him here!
This video tells the story of a group kids who helped end segregation in their town, through nonviolent protest.
Another group of people who have had to speak up for their civil rights are people with disabilities.
We need equality and equity for everyone to have the same opportunities. This video explains what these words mean.
PAGE 4
Read about it! BOOKS ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES
There are plenty of books in the library about civil rights, liberties, and the Civil Rights Movement. Here are just a few. Click on the picture to see the book in our online catalog. If it sounds interesting, you can put it on hold and check it out!
And We Rise: The Civil Rights Movement in Poems Erica Martin
Singing for Equality: Musicians of the Civil Rights Era Diane C. Taylor
Disability Rights Movement Amy Hayes
John Lewis: Civil Rights Leader and Congressman Duchess Harris
Citizens’ Rights: A Citizen’s Guide Wil Mara
What Is the Civil Rights Movement?
Martin Luther King, Jr: Great Lives in Graphics
The Bill of Rights: Why It Matters to You
Sherri L. Smith
Amy B. Mucha, Addy Rivera Sonda
Ruth Bjorkland
To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols and Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights
American Indian Rights Movement Sarah Machajewski
Nelson Mandela: South African President and Civil Rights Activist
#Pride: Championing LGBTQ Rights Rebecca Felix
Angela Dalton
Kris Woll