This book explains civil rights and the history of the fight for racial equality in an accessible way for younger readers.
Movements in the struggle for racial equality through history are explored chronologically. A selection of key civil rights moments and movements are broken down into short blocks of text that examine some of the history of how and why racism exists and has been used against people of colour. It looks at topics such as colourism, colonialism, slavery and stolen lands. It explores how white people have used racism to better their lives and some of the cruel and violent ways that they have treated millions of Black and indigenous peoples. It also covers the story of the Windrush Generation and modern movements, such as Black Lives Matter.
Prominent civil rights campaigners and figures are featured and a timeline helps readers to see at a glance how the fight to bring about racial equality has evolved over time and is still ongoing. Sensitive illustrations illuminate the text and help readers to understand some of the trickier concepts. Death and violence are mentioned, but are wholly in context and are written about in a non-alarmist way with the age of the reader very much in mind.
The book includes a foreword by Arike Oke, who is the Managing Director of Black Cultural Archives in Brixton, London.
The Civil Rights Stories series is a vital resource for younger readers aged 7+ who are being introduced to these topics, are interested in anti-racism or are studying these topics in school. Titles in this series:
Human Rights/LGBTQ+ Rights/Racial Equality/Refugees and Homelands/Slavery/Women's Rights and Suffrage
