Lighting the Fires of Freedom: African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement

In "Lighting the Fires of Freedom: African American Women in the Civil Rights Movement," author Janet Dewart Bell brings to light the pivotal yet often underrecognized roles of African American women in the heart of the twentieth-century civil rights battles. Through intimate narratives and vivid first-hand accounts, Bell introduces readers to the unsung heroines who not only stood alongside figures like Rosa Parks and Coretta Scott King but also fueled the momentum of the movement itself. Published on January 7, 2020, and nominated for a 2019 NAACP Image Award, this collection dives deep into the lives of women like Diane Nash, detailing their fearless confrontations with racial and gender injustices. Ideal for middle-school readers, this book not only educates about racial justice and gender equality but also echoes the urgent relevance of these stories in today's social fabric. "Lighting the Fires of Freedom" is an essential read for anyone keen to understand the breadth and depth of leadership that shaped one of America's defining historical epochs.