Mission Focus of July: Anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights Act (July 2nd)
Raising Awareness about the 1964 Civil Rights Act:
(this information is intended for parents)
July 2 marks “the fifty-seventh anniversary of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a landmark law passed at the height of the modern civil rights movement and in the midst of entrenched racial discrimination and massive resistance to desegregation. The law came a century after our country fought a war to end slavery (citation).” With the recent racial injustice and violence within our world today, a summer month like July is a great month to teach about the Civil Rights movement to children and the great strides of justice and freedom that the Civil Rights Movement resulted in, but also the long way that we have to go still in terms of the work of justice, equality, and peace for all. This month will feature two Children’s Books that serve as wonderful sources for providing children, youth, and families with a strong foundation to support teaching about the Civil Rights Movement.
Furthermore, in Deuteronomy 7:9, Moses reminded the people of where their hope and trust should lay, saying, “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love God and keep God's commandments, to a thousand generations…” Throughout history, people living under injustice and oppression have clung to this trust in our faithful God who promises to always walk alongside us and never leave us. This is the trust and faith that has allowed people, especially minority groups living during the time of the Civil Rights Movement, to preserve in the most turbulent of times. When we believe these words from Deuteronomy 7:9 and take them to heart, we are able to stand in solidarity with those who still suffer oppression in the form of inequality, prejudice, and hatred today. For children, the lessons of the past from the Civil Rights Movement become strength for the future as we learn what it means to stand up against injustice and recognize the vital role that we have to play in making the world a more peaceful place free of hatred and injustice and instead defined by justice, love, hospitality, and acceptance for all.
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READ The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, a Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson
(Click HERE to access a re-aloud to this Book)
Summary of Book: Nine-year-old Audrey Hendricks, inspired by civil rights leaders who visit her home and preach at her church regularly, decided to stand up against injustice. When Martin Luther King and others planned a children’s march in Birmingham in 1963, she volunteered to be a part of it. Because of her brave actions, she was jailed along with thousands of other African-American young people. This protest, and others like it, helped to get the Civil Rights bill passed, and made it possible for people of all races to have access to the same places (citation for this).” Thus, this book shows that Audrey Faye Hendricks is the youngest known child to be arrested for a civil rights protest and her bravery and boldness through it all. So this story is the remarkable story of Audrey’s role in the Civil Rights Movement that hopefully will inspire future generations of children and youth to stand up for injustices in our world today so that we can work towards creating justice, equality, and peace for all.
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READ Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-ins by Carole Boston Weatherford
(Click HERE to access a re-aloud to this Book)
Summary of Book: In Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins, it follows a brief time period in Connie’s childhood during the Civil Rights Movement. Connie wonders why she is not allowed to be served at a lunch counter and one day witnesses a group of Black men doing a sit in at the same lunch counter. As time goes on and sit-ins and protests sweep the nation Connie finds herself surrounded by activism from the people in her life. After getting news that the lunch counter was serving Blacks, she went and finally got her banana split. This Children’s Book serves as an excellent picture book that introduces the idea of racism and the Civil Rights Movement to children, youth, and families.
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Discuss the following:
- What do you know about the Civil Rights Movement? Have you learned about it in school?
- In the first book listed above, what were some of the unjust laws that Audrey wanted to change?
- What did Audrey learn about laws known as “segregation laws,” which treated black people radically differently from white people, when grown-ups talked during supper? What did she think about these laws?
- How did these “segregation laws” affect Audrey’s life and the people in it? In what ways were black people treated differently from white people and how was this unjust or unfair?
- If you had been at the church when Dr. King called for volunteers to go to jail, what do you think you would have done? What do you think was hardest for Audrey about being in jail?
- How did Audrey’s actions help bring about or foster change?
- A famous philosopher by the name of Gandhi says, "You must be the change that you wish to see in the world." Reflect on this quote with the following questions:
a. What stands out to you from this quote?
b. How does this quote relate to Audrey Hendricks in the first book?
c. How might it relate to you personally and your work of justice in our world today?
d. What does it have to do with establishing justice, equality, and peace for all?
8. In the second book, we see that the Greensboro Sit-Ins were a key part in the growth of the Civil Rights Movement. You may have to research these questions, but find the answer to them:
a. How did the sit-in movement start and what were its goals and strategies?
b. What impact did the Greensboro sit-ins have both locally and nationally?
9.In the second book, discuss these questions below (taken from the author’s blog website):
a. How did Connie feel about the whites-only lunch counter?
b. Why wouldn’t Aunt Gertie use the colored-only drinking fountain?
c. How did characters in the book feel about the sit-ins?
d. Why did Connie want her sister to carry the flag?
e. Should her sister have joined the sit-ins and risked arrest? What do you think and why?
10. Why is it important to study, remember and honor the actions of civil rights activists such as those who participated in the “Long Civil Rights Movement?”
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Activities to do at Home:
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Research these two concepts: 1.) Segregation 2.) Jim Crow Laws. Then describe and define what they are.
a. Info for Adults: (might use this info to guide children and youth with) “Segregation was part of a larger set of laws called Jim Crow laws. Jim Crow laws legalized racial separation or segregation and prohibited social intermingling among blacks and whites. In many cities and states, segregation was the law from the late nineteenth century until the 1960s (citation).”
Then, have children and youth find examples of segregation in images or artwork using Google Photos.
Then, have children and youth research and make a list of several segregation or Jim Crow laws that treated Blacks differently than Whites.
b. More Info for Adults: (might use this info to guide children and youth with for this activity): “separate rooms or sections of restaurants and libraries, separate schools, theaters, lunch counters and public parks, and separate ticket offices and entrances to circuses and other shows… (citation).”
2. In the first book, it tells of a true story of Audrey Hendricks, who in 1963 and at 9 years old, left school and joined more than 2,000 students in a Birmingham demonstration that became known as the Children's Crusade. Consider watching this interview by her that tells of her participation in the Children's Crusade and her arrest.
3. In the second book, we see that the Greensboro Sit-Ins were a key part in the growth of the Civil Rights Movement. So, do the following below:
a. Read this paragraph to learn more about the Greensboro Sit-In: “On February 1, 1960, four African-American students of North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University sat at a white-only lunch counter inside a Greensboro, North Carolina Woolworth’s store. While sit-ins had been held elsewhere in the United States, the Greensboro sit-in catalyzed a wave of nonviolent protest against private-sector segregation (citation).”
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The main idea being communicated is one of praise for the non-violent protests in helping to bring about or foster justice for all. Use this audio from The National Center for Civil and Human Rights to participate in a lunch counter sit-in simulation and place yourselves in the shoes of non-violent protestors in 1960.
- Then reflect: what did you hear or think while listening to this audio? What sparked your attention/ made you think? How does this audio propel you forward in pursuit of justice for all?
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Prayer:
O God, we thank you for the lives of people like Audrey Hendricks, who has revealed to us that even at such a young age, we can take a stand on things, and for showing us that justice is possible. Help us to rely on you, O’ God, and also our faith so that we can keep walking for freedom and establish your kingdom, marked by love and justice for all, within our world today. Help us to continue to follow you faithfully and become so committed to your ways and teachings so that we will be able to make a creative contribution to this world and it can become what you envision it to be, a place where all are loved, valued and honored, and justice is shown towards all people. In your name we pray, Amen.
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