And We Rise: The Civil Rights Movement in Poems - Hardcover

Martin, Erica

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0593352521 ISBN 13: 9780593352526

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers, 2022

Synopsis

*"A powerful, necessary book." SLJ, starred review

A powerful, impactful, eye-opening journey that explores through the Civil Rights Movement in 1950s-1960s America in spare and evocative verse, with historical photos interspersed throughout.

In stunning verse and vivid use of white space, Erica Martin's debut poetry collection walks readers through the Civil Rights Movement—from the well-documented events that shaped the nation’s treatment of Black people, beginning with the "Separate but Equal" ruling—and introduces lesser-known figures and moments that were just as crucial to the Movement and our nation's centuries-long fight for justice and equality.

A poignant, powerful, all-too-timely collection that is both a vital history lesson and much-needed conversation starter in our modern world. Complete with historical photographs, author's note, chronology of events, research, and sources.


Praise for And We Rise:

*"This powerful collection of poems serves not only as a history lesson but also a conversation starter about the civil rights movement and other events that have impacted the treatment of Black Americans throughout history." -- SLC (starred review)

"A strong, historically accurate collection that can enhance any social studies or language arts unit. More important, audiences will appreciate these poems that leap off the pages, bringing history, pain, dignity, and fierce determination to life." --Booklist

About this title

About the Author

Erica Martin (ericamartinthewriterdotcom.wordpress.com) is a freelance editor, specializing in copyediting and developmental editing, and a poet. She has always been fascinated by English, writing, and US History. And We Rise is her first book. She lives with her family in Tennessee. Follow Erica on Twitter @ericaeditor or on Instagram @erica.martin.writes.

Reviews

Gr 7 Up-Short poems use negative space and concrete poetry elements to tell the history of the civil rights movement in the United States. The prelude focuses on the "Separate, but Equal" ruling, and then the narrative is broken into three sections: "One Step Forward, Two Steps Back," "Power to the People," and "The Beginning of the End." Tragedies, events, and people who were ignored by history are discussed, along with those who made the history books. The use of negative space and the occasional implementation of different fonts or concrete poetry impacts the narrative, like the visuals in a picture book. For instance, the poem "1959 March 5th" recalls the fire at the Negro Boys Industrial School in Wrightsville, AR. The word "bodies" is printed 21 times (in three columns and seven rows), referencing the number of victims "piled…one top of another." The refrain "and on and on the Blacks Marched," followed by the word "marched" repeated on the page, occurs several times within the book. Black-and-white photographs, surveys, signs, and even arrest records are included. Extensive back matter includes a time line for the poems, sources cited, a bibliography, and Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail." VERDICT The impact of the poems in this powerful, necessary book is strengthened by the layout of the text and drives home the struggle for civil rights. A strong first purchase.-Tamara Saarinen α(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

It’s 1877 when

Jim Crow laws say it’s

                        acceptable

                        legal

                        lawful

to segregate Blacks

&

                        whites

based on the color of

their skin.

In

                        schools

                        hospitals

                        churches

                        cemeteries

                        prisons

                        public transit

                        restaurants—-

if you were not

                        white

you were lesser

                        less than

human.

For years

&

years

&

years

&

years

 

nothing changed,

 

until 1954

when the Supreme Court reversed its decision

& ruled segregation unconstitutional.

 

Yet still,

nothing changed.

Because a ruling is only as effective

as its real--world execution.

 

 

 

the Supreme Court rules

 

in 1896

Blacks are

“Separate but Equal”

yet

outside

in the middle of July

in Birmingham, Alabama,

sweat drips

 

d

o

w

n

your forehead

your neck

your back

 

drenching

 

your shirt

your shorts

your socks

                                                                                                s e p a r a t e

                                                                                                but equal

 

you find a water fountain

your water fountain

and press the small rusty button

 

water arches

                                                up

                                                                        and out

waiting

                        for your

puck ered

                        lips

                                                                                                s e p a r a t e

                                                                                                but equal

 

only

it’s hot

brown

tastes like dirt

 

you glance around

checking for them

then

 

sneak a sip

from their fountain

 

                                                                                                                        s e p a r a t e

                                                                                                                        but equal

it’s cold

ice--cold

and refreshing

you sigh

s e p a r a t e

but equal

you are

not.

 

 

 

 

the Civil Rights Movement

 

was more than just

Dr. King

                        marching,

Rosa Parks

                        sitting,

Malcolm X

                        fighting.

 

it was

 

your mom

your grandma

your best friend’s great--aunt.

 

it was

everyday people

like you                              and me.

 

 

 

 

1954

May 17

Brown v. Board of Education

+

inherently unequal, an unconstitutional violation of the fourteenth amendment

=

white schools 

+

Black  schools

=

a great day for America and its court.

= segregation in public schools                          now illegal

 

in theory.

 

 

 

SIGNS, EVERYWHERE YOU GO . . . whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only whites only WHITES ONLY

for colored

                        their (other) signs read

 

 

funny thing is

 

white is still a color

Edition details

• Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0593352521
• ISBN 13: 9780593352526
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160