Module 12 Book - Biography and Autobiography - Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

written by Phillip Hoose



Bibliography

Hoose, P. (2009). Claudette Colvin: Twice toward justice. Farrar Straus Giroux, NY: Melanie Kroupa Books.
ISBN-13:978-0-374-31322-7

Brief Summary

Everyone is familiar with the famous incident during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s during which Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. However, a young girl named Claudette Colvin was actually the first person to refuse to move to the back of the bus so that a while female could have the row of seats to herself. Although she was only fifteen at the time and acted passively by only refusing to give up her seat, Claudette was dragged from the bus, handcuffed, arrested, and placed in an adult cell in the city jail.

Though Claudette was involved in the movement associated with the famous bus boycott in Montgomery, and worked with both Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it was decided that Park’s incident should be highlighted rather than that of Claudette. At the time, Claudette was a pregnant teenager, and it was thought that she would not present as positive an image as the more mature, better connected Parks would. However, Claudette was one of five plaintiffs in Browder v. Gayle, a lawsuit in 1956 stating that the Montgomery and Alabama segregation laws regarding public buses was unconstitutional based on Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka in 1954. As we know, they won!

My Impressions

I’m really pleased to have read Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice. I’m familiar with the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s, including the famous incident with Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Therefore, it was surprising to me to read that a young girl was actually the first person to refuse to move to the back of the bus. If you have an opportunity to experience this biography, it will provide a good read and some great information with which you may be unfamiliar! Enjoy!

Reviews

“Nine months before Rosa Parks' history-making protest on a city bus, Claudette Colvin, a 15-year-old Montgomery, Alabama, high-school student, was arrested and jailed for refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger. Hoose draws from numerous personal interviews with Colvin in this exceptional title that is part historical account, part memoir. Hoose's lucid explanations of background figures and events alternate with lengthy passages in Colvin's own words, and the mix of voices creates a comprehensive view of the Montgomery bus boycott and the landmark court case, Browder v. Gayle, that grew from it. At the center of the headline-grabbing turmoil is teenager Colvin, who became pregnant during the boycott; and her frank, candid words about both her personal and political experiences will galvanize young readers. On each attractively designed spread, text boxes and archival images, including photos and reproduced documents, extend the gripping story…this inspiring title shows the incredible difference that a single young person can make, even as it demonstrates the multitude of interconnected lives that create and sustain a political movement. Thorough chapter notes and suggestions for further reading close this title, which will find an avid readership beyond the classroom.”

-- Booklist (February 1, 2009)
Engberg, Gillian Copyright 2009 Booklist

“…Investigating Colvin's actions, asking why Rosa Parks's role has overshadowed Colvin's, Hoose (We Were There, Too! Young People in U.S. History) introduces readers to a resolute and courageous teenager and explores the politics of the NAACP and bus-boycott leadership...Hoose's evenhanded account investigates Colvin's motives and influences, and carefully establishes the historical context so that readers can appreciate both Colvin's maturity and bravery and the boycott leadership's pragmatism. Illus. with b&w photos. Ages 10-up.”

-- Publisher’s Weekly (February 2, 2009)
Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information

“…Hoose, who had been curious about the often-unidentified teen who first defied bus segregation, persuaded her to tell her story. His book puts Colvin back into the historical record, combining her reminiscences with narrative about her life and the tumultuous events of the boycott. He includes background about segregated Montgomery and places Colvin's story into the context of the larger Civil Rights Movement. The text is supplemented with black-and-white photos, reproductions of period newspapers and documents, and sidebars. While virtually all students know Rosa Parks's story, this well-written and engaging book will introduce them to a teen who also fought for racial justice and give them a new perspective on the era, making it an outstanding choice for most collections…Gr 6 Up”

-- School Library Journal (February 1, 2009)
Mary Mueller, Rolla Junior High School, MO
Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information

Suggestions for Library Use

I agree with School Library Journal that this title is appropriate for students in 6^th grade and up. Some of the material, such as the teen pregnancy, is more suitable for the older reader. Claudette Colvin would be an excellent addition to social studies, history, and government curricula in addition to language arts and English. Students always hear that “they can make a difference.” However, they need the opportunity to read engaging, factual accounts about pre-teens/teens their age who do “make a difference.”