Traveler's Guide to the Civil Rights Movement

In the introduction to A Traveler's Guide to the Civil Rights Movement, Congressman John Lewis reminds us that in order to understand and appreciate our nation's history, we must live it and visit its birthplaces. This new guide to an important part of our collective history takes visitors to Montgomery, Little Rock, Selma, and Memphis and tells the stories of these and many other places where the chronicle of civil rights should be preserved for the next generation. Beginning with Washington D.C. where the author casts familiar venues in a new light, and continuing state by state through the South and beyond, this beautifully written guide shares stories of well-known memorials and the not-so-famous street corner stops. An award-winning journalist and author of eight books, Jim Carrier does more than point out places of interest. He writes about the Rosenwald Schools built all over the South by a partnership between Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald, the president of Sears, Roebuck & Co. He takes us to the first state memorial to African American history, the South Carolina Capitol in Columbia. He points out seven spots on a suggested driving tour of Greenwood, Mississippi, ground zero for the civil rights struggle in the Delta. And tucked between place names, maps, and black and white photographs are essays about topics from sports heroes and music to women of the movement and the military. More history than guidebook, this is a fascinating look back as well as forward at the ongoing struggle for civil rights.

With the idea of heritage tours of historical sites becoming more and more important, Carrier's book comes in a timely fashion. Along with Townsend Davis' "Weary Feet, Rested Souls" the two books form an indispensable guide to the places important to the Civil Rights movement in America. Where Carrier shines is in the unsung areas. He highlights the places were things happened, especially in the country, where there are no markers, but should be. So while you might not find these places normally, you learn about their important role in a century long movement. He pulls no punches, often times pointedly noting the important part played by the unsung heroes whose place in history has been usurped by the big names, including Martin Luther King, Jr. The book is up to date, noting actions by the National Park Service in 2003, and sites in progress expected to be ready in 2004-2008. One thing that comes from reading this book is the lack of formal recognition of the lives and struggles of African-Americans in the south - from plantation sites that usually don't acknowledge the lives of the slaves, to states such as Mississippi that give very little space to the African American experience in state heritage museums. A lot of this is changing, so hopefully this guide will have to be updated and revised in the near future to hopefully indicate more museums and exhibits are open. Though most of the events noted in the book happened 30 to 150 years ago, it gives the reader the chance to walk in the footsteps of those who came before us. Most importantly to keep history alive, so that we never forget what has happened.

This book is fascinating even if you never leave home. It's both a travel guide and a reference for anyone wanting to learn more about the Civil Rights Movement. But it's not limited to modern times; like many historians, the author takes the view that the struggle for civil rights began the moment the first enslaved African set foot on these shores and tried to break free. And it continued anywhere that people fought for dignity and equality. Consequently, the sites described here include sites of slave rebellions, legal battles, Underground Railroad safe houses, historically black colleges, churches, museums...even the minor league stadium in Florida where Jackie Robinson broke through the color line.I particularly enjoyed the author's honest and opinionated style. Black history has been overshadowed by white interpretation for a very long time, even in locations where the majority population was black. Visit a Southern plantation and you will learn about the lifestyle of the owners, but very little about the slaves who made that lifestyle possible. You may ogle the beautiful handcrafted furniture, yet never be told that a black artisan created it. He notes that much depends on which particular docent you end up with. Regarding Monticello, he says "...some guides more comfortable with the old Jefferson story of his inventions and quirks acknowledge the Hemings affair in clipped tones. Others discuss it volubly."The National Park Service is among those working toward a more inclusive interpretation of their historic sites, and Carrier tells us when changes are planned. He provides web sites for further study. He also writes about planned memorials. Women are equally represented here. For example, he notes that the Montgomery bus boycott was Jo Ann Robinson's brainchild and that a "reluctant" Martin Luther King Jr. was brought in to head the movement the day after the Women's Political Caucus had distributed leaflets to every business and church in town. He also notes that despite black women's long history of struggle for civil rights, the male leadership refused to allow any to speak at the 1963 March on Washington...in fact, Coretta King and other wives weren't wasn't even allowed to march with their husbands. "...after all their work and sacrifice, deliberate rebuff by male activists was unforgivable" he says.A book that belongs in every high school library!