Annotated Resource List
Literature
Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey
Set in the early 1950’s, this picture book creates a depiction of segregated life in the South that is appropriate for a young elementary-age audience. On a road trip from Chicago to Alabama, Ruth and her family are denied service throughout their journey, until they are told of a green book that contains the names and locations of black-friendly rest stops and hotels. With the message that people help each other when needed, this book is a good segue into beginning to understand segregation and its restrictions, particularly with regards to interstate travel.
Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds
This book tells the story of Rosa Parks’s historic arrest through the eyes of a child situated on the same bus. Wavering between tones of fear and defiance, the protagonist emerges with a feeling of strength an triumph that Rosa’s act has sparked civil change. Throughout the book, the boy hides a tiger’s eye marble in his hand, and at the end, he holds it out in the open, watching it shine. With this metaphor, Back of the Bus offers a way to connect figurative language with the civil rights movement, incorporating elements of literacy to enhance the reader’s experience.
Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice by Raymond Arsenault
Arsenault writes an extremely comprehensive and detailed account of the Freedom Rides. From maps of the various trips to firsthand descriptions of experiences, this text was very helpful in allowing me to gain insight into the decision-making behind each ride. The thorough research allowed me to better understand the emotional states of the riders throughout each journey, and to understand piece by piece how the rides unfolded. The text offers many interviews, dialogues, and pictures that provide useful excerpts for classroom activities.
Media
PBS Documentary: “Freedom Riders”
My primary source for researching about the Freedom Riders, this documentary offered a well-rounded experience in learning about the activists, their motives, the cost of the rides, and the eventual outcome of their efforts. It features newspaper articles, which allowed me to know what articles to search for in microfilm. The documentary also interviews several Freedom Riders, and provides an emotionally moving way to present information to a classroom.
You Tube
In addition to providing many short clips that are appropriate for showing to students in the classroom, You Tube has several representations of freedom songs and accompanying slideshows. Some of the freedom songs are older versions, while others are modern remakes. The accessibility of this site allows for quick research results, and with the plethora of videos, one can find many comparisons between themes from the past and present.
Community Resources
Newspapers and Microfilm Department at the Free Library
This department at the central branch of the Free Library archives many of the leading newspaper publications from 1960 and on. With the publication’s name and year, one can scan microfilm free of charge on the library’s scanning machines; printing costs 25 cents per page. Interesting archives of information, I found several newspaper articles about the Freedom Riders to incorporate into my lessons.
Print and Pictures Department at the Free Library
This department houses archives of historic photographs, drawings, a portrait collection, and a circulating pictures collection. Teachers can make an appointment to bring students here for field trips to view images of a specific genre, category, or artist. Providing an opportunity for students to see a comprehensive collection of original black and white fiber prints, the department allows students to wear white gloves while handling the work and discussing the images in front of them.
Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey
Set in the early 1950’s, this picture book creates a depiction of segregated life in the South that is appropriate for a young elementary-age audience. On a road trip from Chicago to Alabama, Ruth and her family are denied service throughout their journey, until they are told of a green book that contains the names and locations of black-friendly rest stops and hotels. With the message that people help each other when needed, this book is a good segue into beginning to understand segregation and its restrictions, particularly with regards to interstate travel.
Back of the Bus by Aaron Reynolds
This book tells the story of Rosa Parks’s historic arrest through the eyes of a child situated on the same bus. Wavering between tones of fear and defiance, the protagonist emerges with a feeling of strength an triumph that Rosa’s act has sparked civil change. Throughout the book, the boy hides a tiger’s eye marble in his hand, and at the end, he holds it out in the open, watching it shine. With this metaphor, Back of the Bus offers a way to connect figurative language with the civil rights movement, incorporating elements of literacy to enhance the reader’s experience.
Freedom Riders: 1961 and the Struggle for Racial Justice by Raymond Arsenault
Arsenault writes an extremely comprehensive and detailed account of the Freedom Rides. From maps of the various trips to firsthand descriptions of experiences, this text was very helpful in allowing me to gain insight into the decision-making behind each ride. The thorough research allowed me to better understand the emotional states of the riders throughout each journey, and to understand piece by piece how the rides unfolded. The text offers many interviews, dialogues, and pictures that provide useful excerpts for classroom activities.
Media
PBS Documentary: “Freedom Riders”
My primary source for researching about the Freedom Riders, this documentary offered a well-rounded experience in learning about the activists, their motives, the cost of the rides, and the eventual outcome of their efforts. It features newspaper articles, which allowed me to know what articles to search for in microfilm. The documentary also interviews several Freedom Riders, and provides an emotionally moving way to present information to a classroom.
You Tube
In addition to providing many short clips that are appropriate for showing to students in the classroom, You Tube has several representations of freedom songs and accompanying slideshows. Some of the freedom songs are older versions, while others are modern remakes. The accessibility of this site allows for quick research results, and with the plethora of videos, one can find many comparisons between themes from the past and present.
Community Resources
Newspapers and Microfilm Department at the Free Library
This department at the central branch of the Free Library archives many of the leading newspaper publications from 1960 and on. With the publication’s name and year, one can scan microfilm free of charge on the library’s scanning machines; printing costs 25 cents per page. Interesting archives of information, I found several newspaper articles about the Freedom Riders to incorporate into my lessons.
Print and Pictures Department at the Free Library
This department houses archives of historic photographs, drawings, a portrait collection, and a circulating pictures collection. Teachers can make an appointment to bring students here for field trips to view images of a specific genre, category, or artist. Providing an opportunity for students to see a comprehensive collection of original black and white fiber prints, the department allows students to wear white gloves while handling the work and discussing the images in front of them.