The Greensboro Lunch Counter

Starred review from October 1, 2021
Grades 4-6 *Starred Review* In 1960, four Black college students in Greensboro, North Carolina, sat down at Woolworth's whites-only lunch counter and ordered coffee. After service was denied, the peaceful protest continued every day and spread to other cities. Six months later, Woolworth's changed its policy. Introducing the protesters and explaining their goals, what they expected to face, and what actually happened, Pryor shows how their actions fit into the civil rights movement up to and including the passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Illustrated with many archival photos, the book provides a clearer understanding of day-to-day discrimination during that period, as well as what it meant to those facing racial prejudice and why the protesters chose to use nonviolence in response. This volume from the Artifacts from the American Past series (6 titles) notes that sections of the actual lunch counter are on display at museums in Greensboro and in Washington, D.C. With its broad perspective, significant details, and well-organized presentation of ideas, this short, effective book offers a good deal of information in a very readable way.

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November 1, 2021

Gr 4-6-This series offers a unique way to approach historical events that will appeal to history buffs. Things as different as a brass inkstand and a lowly stump serve as reminders of major events when their stories are told. Each title gives the background of the individuals involved and the events, as well as describing the part each object played. Sidebars address related topics such as the way female, Indigenous, and Black persons were affected by events. Text boxes provide additional facts, while archival photos, images, and maps show the key players and places. A section in the back matter offers a list of museums, parks, historical sites, and other sources for further exploration. There are also suggested books and internet sites. VERDICT This series will serve well for research projects and offers a unique way to introduce important events.

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