6 Great Books on the American Civil Rights Movement - For Reading Addicts

7 classics to mark the American civil rights movement

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Why We Can't Wait

Por qué no podemos esperar

16 Civil Rights Books for the Whole Family | Book Riot

As Told to Alex Haley

Como Narrado a Alex Haley

Born as Malcolm Little in Omaha, Nebraska in a time of rampant racial discrimination, he experienced a turbulent childhood marked by violence and persecution. His family's move to Michigan did little to alleviate these hardships, with his father murdered by white supremacists and his mother committed to a psychiatric hospital. He later relocated to Boston, living with his half-sister, Ella, and quickly immersing himself in the city's urban nightlife. His adventurous life led him to a variety of jobs and activities, including a stint as a railway porter, hustling in Harlem, and even engaging in armed robberies.

His lifestyle in Harlem ultimately became perilous, driving him back to Boston where he dabbled in burglary, ultimately leading to his imprisonment. It was during his time behind bars that he underwent a profound transformation. He converted to the Nation of Islam, which had already won over several of his siblings. His faith became the catalyst for his self-improvement; he stopped his drug use, engaged in extensive reading, studied English and Latin, and even became a member of the prison debate team. Upon his parole, he relocated to Detroit, becoming deeply involved in the local temple of the Nation of Islam.

Malcolm's dedication to the Nation of Islam eventually led him to drop his last name, adopting the "X" to symbolize his lost African heritage. His charisma and dedication saw him rise rapidly within the organization's ranks, eventually earning him national recognition as a staunch advocate for Black unity and militancy. However, his prominence also stirred resentment within the Nation of Islam, leading to his suspension. After a final fallout with the organization, Malcolm X established his own group, the Muslim Mosque, Inc. His later travels to the Middle East and Africa led him to a version of Islam he considered more authentic, sparking a new commitment to alleviate America's racial issues through religion. His life was tragically cut short by assassination in 1965, but not before he became a globally recognized figure.

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

La Autobiografía de Malcolm X

The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

La Historia Épica de la Gran Migración de América

The Warmth of Other Suns

El Calor de Otros Soles

13 Significant Books on Civil Rights for Martin Luther King Jr. Day | HuffPost Entertainment

In the heart of Mississippi during the summer of 1962, a middle-aged African-American woman named Aibileen Clark works as a maid for a white family, caring for their child, Mae Mobley. The family's matriarch, Elizabeth Leefolt, is swayed by her friends into building a separate bathroom for Aibileen based on false notions of racial disease transmission, despite their limited finances. In the meantime, Aibileen's closest friend, Minny, loses her job as a maid due to false rumors spread by one of Elizabeth's friends, Hilly, who claimed Minny is a thief. Minny ultimately finds employment with Celia Foote, a woman married to Hilly's ex-lover, who is ostracized by the town's society. 

Recently graduated from college, Skeeter Phelan, a friend of Elizabeth's, is intrigued by Aibileen's life. After landing a job at the local newspaper, Skeeter seeks Aibileen's help in writing her column. In the process, she learns about Aibileen's son, Treelore, who was penning a book about the experiences of black people working for white families before his untimely death. This inspires Skeeter to delve into the life of maids, leading her to start interviewing Aibileen in secret for her book. Meanwhile, Minny’s employer, Celia, struggles to fit in with society and hides her multiple miscarriages. Despite Minny's warnings, Celia tries to befriend Hilly, leading to a disastrous public incident.

Skeeter’s manuscript garners the interest of Elaine Stein, a senior editor at Harper & Row, who encourages Skeeter to interview more maids. Initially hesitant, more maids agree to share their experiences after Hilly unjustly accuses her maid, Yule May, of petty theft. In an act of defiance, Skeeter publishes a piece in a newsletter that results in dozens of old toilets being dropped off in Hilly's front yard. The ensuing scandal ostracizes Skeeter from the community. As a protective measure for the maids who shared their stories, Minny convinces Skeeter to include a scandalous story involving Hilly in her book. After its publication, the book creates ripples in their community, leading to both positive and negative outcomes for those involved.

The Help

Criadas y Señoras

Irene Redfield, a light-skinned African American woman, often uses her physical appearance to pass as a white woman in public spaces, especially when it suits her needs. Originally from Chicago, she now resides in Harlem with her spouse, Brian, a successful doctor who however yearns for a life in a less racially charged environment, and their two sons. Despite her husband's desires, Irene insists on making New York their home.

During a visit back to Chicago, Irene runs into Clare, an old friend from her childhood. Clare is the opposite of Irene—self-absorbed, dramatic, and impulsive, she is even lighter-skinned than Irene, and has kept her racial identity a secret from her white husband, John Bellew. The couple and their daughter divide their time between Europe and the US, determined by Bellew’s international banking career. Irene is simultaneously intrigued and repelled by Clare but grudgingly accepts an invitation to visit her at their hotel. The encounter reveals Bellew's deeply racist views, unbeknownst to him he expresses them in front of three light-skinned black women, including his wife.

Fast forward two years, Clare and her family have moved to New York and she resumes contact with Irene. Unable to assert herself and maintain distance, Irene allows Clare back into her life and even into her social circle. A charity event brings Clare's secret dangerously close to being exposed when Bellew accidentally meets Irene and a darker-skinned friend. Irene begins to suspect that Clare and Brian might be having an affair, increasing her anxiety as the Bellews' imminent return to Europe could leave Clare free to pursue Brian. However, an unexpected turn of events removes the threat Clare poses to Irene's family. At a party in the Redfields' apartment, Clare falls out of an open window after a confrontation with Bellew. It remains uncertain whether Clare's fall was accidental, intentional, or if she was pushed by Irene, who was seen approaching angrily and touching Clare's arm just before the fall.

8 Best Civil Rights Books of All Time

Why We Can't Wait

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

As Told to Alex Haley

The Warmth of Other Suns

The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

The Help

Passing

Freshwater Road

A Novel

Martin & Malcolm & America

A Dream or a Nightmare

Carry Me Home

Birmingham, Alabama

Sources

What To Read Next

8 Best Civil Rights Books of All Time

Why We Can't Wait

The Autobiography of Malcolm X

As Told to Alex Haley

The Warmth of Other Suns

The Epic Story of America's Great Migration

The Help

Passing

Freshwater Road

A Novel

Martin & Malcolm & America

A Dream or a Nightmare

Carry Me Home

Birmingham, Alabama

Sources

What To Read Next

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