March (series) by John Lewis

 

    This series of graphic novel memoirs by and about civil rights activist and statesman, John Lewis, is truly worth picking up for readers in 7th grade and up as well as adults. They are all excellent memoirs by Lewis about different marches that he participated in, bringing the spirit and the horrors of the American civil rights movement in the late 1950s and early 1960s to life.

    March: Book One begins with a glimpse ahead of what is to come in the book series with the account of the march to Selma, before flashing to present day John Lewis awaking on the morning 44th President, Barack Obama, is to be sworn in to office. This first graphic novel goes back and forth between Lewis preparing for the inauguration day and telling the story of his childhood, reliving his experiences caring for chickens on his family’s land, going to school on segregated busing, and the everyday minor prejudices and racism he experienced as a person of color. Lewis recounts the events of 1955 with Brown vs. The Board of Education trials condemning school segregation, the racially motivated killing of young Emmitt Till, and the bus boycotts that resulted from Rosa Parks’s arrest after refusing to move seats.

(Lewis & Aydin, 2013, p.58)

    The memoir continues to build momentum as Lewis joins the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He participated in workshops to learn about ways to protest nonviolently together. These workshops prepared the group to begin diner sit-ins in 1959 at segregated establishments in downtown Nashville, TN. Over the course of 2 years, the group participated in many sit-ins, often met with violence and mistreatment, though the group never responded back with violence. 

(Lewis & Aydin, 2013, p. 100-101)

    Many were jailed, violence spread to private property, and Martin Luther King, Jr. pressed the mayor and country about the issues as SNCC continued their protest sit-ins and eventually had thousands march downtown to city hall. Their efforts helped to begin change and the mayor called for integration at lunch counters.

March: Book Two jumps right back into the flashing back and forth between Obama’s inauguration and sit-ins at fast food restaurants & cafeterias, showing how these sit-ins eventually escalate to unbelievable cruelty through fumigation and extreme violence. The same occurs when SNCC expands their non-violent protests to segregated movie theaters. The organization decides to also focus on the Boyton vs. Virginia Supreme Court case that outlawed segregation and discrimination on public buses by becoming Freedom Riders in 1961 through Alabama and Mississippi. As suspected, they are again met with extreme violence, regardless to the law, with some buses firebombed because they are riding them.

(Lewis & Aydin, 2015, p. 44-45)

    Cooperation between the police and the Ku Klux Klan leads to fear, intimidation, and more violence at bus terminals as well as mass arrests of those participating in the rides. Prominent figures of the movement including Martin Luther King, Jr. and politicians such as Robert F. Kennedy & George Wallace, Jr. are shown as the violence spreads and increases, escalating into homes being shot at, churches being attacked, and beatings in the streets. More marches for the enforcement of civil rights happen and Martin Luther King, Jr. is arrested in Birmingham, writing his now famous letters from jail.

(Lewis & Aydin, 2015, p. 130)

    Eventually in 1963, president John F. Kennedy calls for representatives of the movement to convene for a meeting to discuss a civil rights bill and discuss a planned march on Washington by the movement. 

(Lewis & Aydin, 2015, p. 150)

    Much of the rest of book two centers around the planning and events for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom of 1963, highlighting the important participants, organizers, and speeches that take place, including a moving speech by John Lewis as well as Martin Luther King, Jr’s I Had a Dream speech.

(Lewis & Aydin, 2015, p. 172-173)

    March: Book Three goes into the height of the violence in response to the movement growing. In this book we see the Birmingham church bombing that killed 4 little, black girls. President Kennedy is assassinated, and Lyndon Johnson becomes president. Students disappear and are found murdered. Any peaceful protests are met with cruel beatings and attacks by police and white citizens against the movement. There are even killings of children in the streets. Civil rights members are jailed. By highlighting these events, Lewis is able to really visually and narratively draw on the emotions of the reader to show just how racist the country was during this time period and also how brave the civil rights movement members were, always reacting peacefully in the face of hate.

(Lewis & Aydin, 2016, p. 8-9)

    In this final book of the series, Lewis shows how SNCC begins to focus on the rights of black Americans to vote, since leaders are not enforcing laws to protect black citizens. Though they were legally allowed to, Lewis highlights the inequalities to trying to register to vote as a black American where they were subjected to ridiculous tests that white Americans did not have to go through.

    In Selma, Alabama, protest numbers grow and grow. President Lyndon Johnson is able to push through the Civil Rights Act of 1964, but without voting rights, black Americans still feel like their hands are tied. Daily marches occur at the courthouse and black Americans wait in line for the opportunity to register to vote. Teachers boycott and join in. Students join in. Malcolm X is assassinated. In 1965, a march in Selma was organized where the movement would walk to Montgomery in protest, wanting the fair right to vote for all Americans. Lewis describes how on March 7, 1965, the group was brutally beaten as they made their way by law enforcement in what became known as Bloody Sunday, an act that had him hospitalized.

(Lewis & Aydin, 2016, p. 200-201)

    Despite the violence, the group continues to attempt their March multiple times, finally able to make the trek on March 21, 1965. That following August, President Johnson was able to pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965. His speech at the signing ceremony is highlighted in the last few pages of the book, and includes, “The vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for wreaking down injustice and destroying the terrible walls which imprison men because they are different  from other men,” (Lewis & Aydin, 2016, p. 242).

(Lewis & Aydin, 2016, p. 242-243)

    Having completed reading this series as election day approaches in 2020 (tomorrow), I can’t help but feel emotionally moved by this book series. These books so well display the struggles of black America during the civil rights movement; the courage and bravery they faced as they dealt with such harsh words, fists, and sometimes death daily. I think tweens, teens, and even adults would be inspired by these graphic novel memoirs, and could use them to compare the protests of today for equal rights and treatment. A very, powerful series indeed that I highly recommend!

Non-fiction read-alikes and/or pairings:

• Child of the Dream by Sharon Robinson: Set in 1963, this memoir by the daughter of baseball legend, Jackie Robinson, shares her childhood experiences coming of age during the civil rights movement. (5th to 8th grade)

• Because They Marched: The People’s Campaign for Voting Rights That Changed America by Russell Freedman: Newberry author, Russel Freedman’s, book is a great accompaniment to Lewis’s graphic novels, full of black and white photographs of the boycotts and marches surrounding voting rights for black Americans in Alabama. The photographs bring the past to life and the text highlights the events surrounding these marches followed by a timeline, extensive source notes, bibliography, and index. (7th grade+)

• Oh, Freedom!: Kids Talk About the Civil Rights Movement with the People Who Made It Happen by Casey King: A collection of 31 interviews done by 4th grade students from a Washington classroom with everyday people that lived through the civil rights movement, this book is perfect for showing children how regular people can be the force behind change. (4th to 8th grade)

• Extraordinary People of the Civil Rights Movement by Sheila Hardy & P. Stephen Hardy: Part of the Extraordinary People book series, this book highlights 61 key figures of the civil rights movement, Included are black and white photographs, each person’s activist years, and text profiling each individual with their involvement. A glossary, index, and extensive list of additional resources are included in the end pages. (9th grade+)

• Trouble Maker for Justice: The Story of Bayard Rustin, The Man Behind the March on Washington by Jaqueline Houtman: Biography about Bayard Rustin, an openly gay black man that was a nonviolent civil rights activist throughout his life, influenced by Gandhi’s teachings and the Quaker religion. He was instrumental in promoting nonviolent protests, mentored Martin Luther King, Jr., and organized the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. (9th grade+)

Fiction read-alikes:

• Night on Fire by Ronald Kidd: A 13 year old Alabama girl living in 1961 witnesses the Freedom Riders bus protests. She slowly acknowledges her prejudice as she witnesses racism in action around her in the community. (5th to 8th grade)

• Revolution by Deborah Wiles: Part of the Wiles’s Sixties Trilogy, this historical fiction second installment focuses on the civil rights movement during 1964 Mississippi. A young white girl’s and a young black boy’s lives intersect as they witness acts of racism. (7th to 10th grade)

• Freshwater Road by Denice Nicholas: A black Detroit college student living a most sheltered life travels to 1964 Mississippi to help register black Americans to vote and confronts the extreme racism of the time. (9th grade+)

• Lies We Tell Ourselves by Robin Talley: With alternating narration, two girls on the opposite sides of the civil rights movement (white and black) attend one of the first high schools to have racial integration. Partnered in class on a group project, a change in heart occurs as romantic feelings bloom during a time of deep racism and lack of LGBTQ acceptance . (9th grade+)

For resources on the civil rights movement, some YouTube videos that may be educational for tweens and teens include Biography’s March from Selma to Montgomery, History’s Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" Speech, and WatchMojo’s History of the Civil Rights Movement. Also, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute’s (BCRI) website includes an oral history project of digitalized interviews, and PBS has documentary features/snippets focused on the civil rights movement on their Black Cultural Connection section. Educators can access a timeline of the movement on History’s website, access teaching kits at Junior Scholastic, and the National Civil Rights Museum has a few interactive e-learning activities available concerning the bus boycotts and diner sit-ins. Additional information on the people and history of the civil rights movement as well as SNCC can be found at the following websites:

• John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. (2020). Civil rights movement. https://www.jfklibrary.org/learn/about-jfk/jfk-in-history/civil-rights-movement

• Library of Congress. (2020). The civil rights act of 1964: A long struggle for freedom. https://www.loc.gov/exhibits/civil-rights-act/civil-rights-era.html

• The Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute. (2020). Student nonviolent coordinating committee (SNCC). Stanford University. https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/student-nonviolent-coordinating-committee-sncc

• University of Washington. (2020). Mapping American social movements project: SNCC history and geography. https://depts.washington.edu/moves/SNCC_intro.shtml 

• The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. (2020). African American heritage: The student nonviolent coordinating committee (SNCC). https://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/black-power/sncc
  

The following resources may be of use for learning more about the life and achievements of John Lewis:

• Elliott, D. (2020). Civil rights leader John Lewis never gave up or gave in. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2020/07/19/890796423/civil-rights-leader-john-lewis-never-gave-up-or-gave-in

• PBS. (2020). John Lewis: Get in the way. https://www.pbs.org/show/john-lewis-get-in-the-way/

• SNCC. (2020). John Lewis. SNCC Digital Gateway. https://snccdigital.org/people/john-lewis/

• TIME. [TIME]. (2017, Jan 15). John Lewis: The Selma to Montgomery marches [video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRwnXUbJdfg

• Wallenfeldt, J. (2020). John Lewis: American civil rights leader and politician. Encyclopædia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/John-Lewis-American-civil-rights-leader-and-politician

March: Book One is a 2014 Corretta Scott King Honor Book and received a special recognition from the 2014 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Awards. March: Book Two won the 2016 Eisner Award for Best Reality Based Work. March: Book Three won the 2017 Corretta Scott King Award, the 2016 National Book Award for Young People's Literature, the 2017 Eisner Award for Best Reality Based Work, the 2017 Micheal L. Printz Award, the 2017 YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, and the 2017 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal. Starred reviews for all three books can be found at Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, and The Horn Book.

References

Lewis, J. & Aydin, A. (2013). March: Book one. Top Shelf Productions.

Lewis, J. & Aydin, A. (2015). March: Book two. Top Shelf Productions.

Lewis, J. & Aydin, A. (2016). March: Book three. Top Shelf Productions.

The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown

 

    The Unwanted: Stories of the Syrian Refugees by Don Brown is a non-fiction graphic novel published in 2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt that would be best suited for high schoolers or advanced, mature middle schoolers. It begins with a brief introduction of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s harsh rule and the backlash it stirs up within the country of Syria between 2011-2017. We slowly see the conflict unfold as each page turns with accompanying imagery for the text showing some of the horrors the Syrians endure as a collective.

(Brown, 2018, p.10)

    Brown takes readers on a journey alongside various Syrians as they flee the country, looking for safe haven from this violence. They hope for a better life and to keep their children safe. The muted illustrations throughout the text reflect the dreary emotions and mood of the refugees. As the text continues on, the narrator focuses on more individual types of refugee experiences between families, brothers, orphans, friends, etc. though it is not told in an “own voice” manner, but as an overall collective of a refugee viewpoint.

(Brown, 2018, p.33)

    Alternating between the author’s voice with statistics and background information to that of various refugees on their difficult journeys, readers get a sense of the turmoil the people in the country are facing and the hazarding types of lives the refugees endure as they try to find safety for themselves and their families. Readers get a glimpse of what it is like in a refugee camp, how other countries react to refugees, religious discrimination, and hints at political opinions from world leaders.

    The Unwanted’s non-specific character viewpoint allows the reader to get an overall sense of the situation in Syria. The inclusion of occasional statistics and maps aids in the understanding of the amount of refugees and their distances traveled.

(Brown, 2018, p.36-37)

    At the back of the book, Brown also includes a summary of his journal, written while visiting a Syrian refugee camp located in Greece during May 2017. These entries include the names of the camps visited, a summary of what was observed, and a few photographs of the camps themselves. An extensive bibliography is also included.

    I would recommend this book to high schoolers looking to get a basic understanding of the conflict in Syria and what the people there are going through. It could be used in the high school classroom to have discussions Syrian refugees specifically or as part of a pairing with other books on the topic of refugees in general or immigration. Critical thinking skills can be applied in thinking about what people should do in these situations, if/how other people can help, and the problems caused by mass migration like this.

Non-fiction read-alikes and/or pairings:

• When Stars are Scattered by Victoria Jamison & Omar Mohamed : Graphic novel based on the true events of Omar Mohamed's childhood as a Somalian refugee. Provides insight into living in a refugee camp as a child, told in narrative format from Omar's perspective. (7th grade+)

• They Called Us Enemy by George Takei : Graphic novel memoir of actor George Takei's experience in the United States Japanese concentration camps during WWII. Told in narrative format from his perspective of what his family endured. (7th grade+)

• This Land Is Our Land: A History of American Immigration by Linda Barrett Osborne : Showcases the history of immigration to the United States with why people immigrate to the country. Each chapter goes into a different period of history and the reactions of current citizens. Quotes, timelines, source notes, and a bibliography is included. (7th grade +)

• Children of War by Deborah Ellis : A collection of stories from real teenagers from around the world that are war refugees. They talk about where they are from, their family, and what happened to them. (9th grade+)

• The Newcomers: Finding Refugee, Friendship, and Hope in an American Classroom by Helen Thorpe : Stories of 21 non-English speaking teenagers that immigrated to the United States and were part of a classroom together in Denver, CO. Shares their backgrounds and experiences. (9th grade+)

• The Girl from Aleppo: Nujeen's Escape from War to Freedom by Nujeen Mustafa : 16-year-old girl born with cerebral palsy's journey as a refugee from war torn Syria to Germany with her sister. (10th grade+)

Fiction read-alikes and/or pairings:

• Illegal by Eoin Colfer : Graphic novel that portrays the fictional journey of a Ghana refugee to Europe. Stunning illustrations move this novel along in this heartbreaking journey. (7th grade+)

• Other Words for Home by Jasmine Warga : A novel in verse about a young girl from Syria's experience immigrating to Ohio. (6th grade+)

• Refugee by Alan Gratz : Stories of 3 child refugees (Germany, Cuba, & Syria) and their journeys. (6th grade +)

• Escape from Aleppo by N.H. Senzai : Novel about a 14-year-old girl fleeing war torn Syria. (6th grade+)

• A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park : Told as 2 alternating stories of 11 year olds in Sudan in different time periods, we see how their lives intersect. Based on a true story. (7th grade+)

• Now is the Time for Running by Michael Williams : The story of a young Zimbabwe boy who seeks to flee the violence in his village by traveling to South Africa by way of a soccer opportunity. (7th grade+)

• The Good Braider by Terry Farish : Story of a girl from war torn Sudan's journey to Maine told in free verse. (9th grade+)

• A Land of Permanent Goodbyes by Atia Abawi : A story of teenagers from Syria as they make multiple journeys trying to find safety as refugees. (9th grade+)

More books by Don Brown:

• The Great American Dust Bowl by Don Brown : Graphic novel with the history behind how the landscape formed in the United States to create the land conditions that lead to the dust bowl. Most of the narrative focuses on the 1930s conditions endured and how things have changed over time. (5th grade+)

• Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina & New Orleans by Don Brown : Graphic novel about the events of Hurricane Katrina and the aftermath. (7th grade+)

• Fever Year: The Killer Flu of 1918 by Don Brown : Graphic novel describing the spread of the 1918 Spanish flu. (7th grade+)

  

    If you are a teacher or educator looking for classroom tie ins with this text, try checking out TeachingBook.net’s Cultural Representation Reflection or Nonfiction Read and Respond Multi-Leveled Lesson. Match Fish Tank also has information on pairing the book with Alan Gratz’s Refugee for middle school readers. The following articles could also be used as an introduction to Syrian refugees and/or refugees around the world in general:

• The United Nation Refugee Agency. (2020). Syria Emergency. UNHCR.

• Todd, Z. (2019). By the Numbers: Syrian Refugees Around the World. PBS Frontline.

• Connor, P. (2018). Most displaced Syrians are in the Middle East, and about a million are in Europe. Pew Research Center.

• Connor, P. & Krogstad, J. M. (2016). Key Facts About the World’s Refugees. Pew Research Center.

    The Unwanted is the 2019 YALSA Nonfiction Award Winner and a 2019 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor book. You can find starred reviews for the book at Kirkus, Horn Book, and School Library Journal.

References

Brown, D. (2018). The unwanted: Stories of the Syrian refugees. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.