Black and White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene Bull Connor

"Black and White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene Bull Connor" dives into the tumultuous heart of Birmingham, Alabama during the 1950s and 60s, a city then infamously dubbed "Bombingham" due to its frequent bombings during the civil rights movement. This compelling narrative, masterfully constructed by Larry Dane Brimner, intricately explores the lives and opposing stances of two central figures: Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth, a fervent advocate for racial equality, and Eugene "Bull" Connor, the Commissioner who vehemently defended segregation. Drawing from a rich well of court documents, police and FBI reports, newspapers, interviews, and photographs, and in collaboration with the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and personal communications with Reverend Shuttlesworth himself, Brimner vividly paints the struggle and ultimate transformation of a city. Awarded as a Robert F. Sibert Honor Book, an ALA Notable Children's book, and a Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book of the Year, this book not only educates but inspires critical thought and action among elementary school readers towards understanding and advocating for racial justice.