Students on Strike: Jim Crow, Civil Rights, Brown, and Me (National Geographic-memoirs)

In "Students on Strike: Jim Crow, Civil Rights, Brown, and Me," John A. Stokes provides a riveting first-person account of a landmark event in the battle for educational and racial justice in America. Published by National Geographic in 2007, this memoir captures the spirit and determination of Stokes and his peers who, as students at a dilapidated and segregated Virginia school, orchestrated a walkout that would echo through the halls of justice. Facing overcrowded classrooms and deplorable conditions, these young activists, driven by a thirst for equitable education, set in motion a series of events that culminated in the historic Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision. The narrative, enriched with archival illustrations from Stokes’ own scrapbook, not only details the meticulous planning and profound challenges of the strike but also highlights the pivotal role of courage and community in confronting systemic inequality. Ideal for elementary school readers, this book not only educates but inspires action, illustrating how even those with little power can ignite tremendous social change.