Because They Marched: The People's Campaign for Voting Rights that Changed America

A thorough and impassioned account of the Selma to Montgomery march for voting rights from Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman.

1965. Selma, Alabama. The Edmund Pettus Bridge. 

This is the story of Bloody Sunday and the moments leading up to and after this fateful day in the fight for African American voting rights. 

Across the segregated South, African Americans were denied the most fundamental right in a democracy—the right to vote. Tired of reprisals for attempting to register to vote, Selma's Black community began to protest. A march was planned for people, young and old, to march from Selma to Montgomery for voting rights.

But the march quickly became the site of horrific struggle as law officers brutally attacked peaceful demonstrators. When vivid footage and photographs of the violence was broadcast throughout the world, it attracted outrage and spurred demonstrators to complete the march at any cost. 

Newbery Medalist Russell Freedman has written a riveting account of this monumental event in the fight for civil rights. Illustrated with more than forty archival photographs, this is an essential chronicle of events every young person should know. 

ALA Notable Children's Book
California Reading Association, Eureka! Nonfiction Children's Honor Book
ILA Teachers' Choices
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year
A Booklist Editors' Choice
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year
A Center for the Study of Multicultural Children's Literature Best Book
NCSS-CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People
Paterson Prize for Books for Young People Honor Book
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Russell Freedman (1929-2018) transformed non-fiction for children through his insightful narrative, comprehensive research, careful selection of photographs, and deep understanding of his subject matter. He was well known for his riveting biographies and masterful accounts of the history of the United States. One of the most honored writers for children, his many awards include the Newbery Medal, three Newbery Honor Medals, the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award, the May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award and a National Humanities Medal. Major works include Freedom Walkers; Lincoln: A Photobiography; Because They Marched; The Wright Brothers: How They Invented The Airplane; Vietnam: A History of the War.