Through My Eyes: The Autobiography of Ruby Bridges

Title: Through My Eyes: The Autobiography of Ruby Bridges
2000 NCTE Orbis Pictus Winner
Author: Ruby Bridges/ edited by Margo Lundell
Published: 1999
Interesting Facts: (1) Mrs. Henry talks about her time as Ruby's first grade teacher, " To help Ruby, I tried to explain integration more than once...I didn't want to allow hate to enter her life and in any way diminish her beautiful spirit...I told her that the other children would come back to school eventually. When she asked how soon that would be, I had no answer. Ruby never complained, but I knew she was lonely (2) Ruby talks about an incident that happened on the playground at the end of her first year of school, "...a little white boy refused to play with me. 'I can't play with you...My mama said not to because you're a nigger...' I would have done the same thing. If my mama said not to do something, I didn't do it" (50). (3) Ruby talks about the impact that 1960 had on her family life, " I think the pressure my family was under in 1960 caused serious problems in the marriage...After my parents separated, my mother moved us children out of our house on France Street and into a housing project. Over the next few years, my mother had a rough time financially" (pg 56). (4) Ruby talks about her educational opportunities after high school. "After graduating from high school, I remember wanting to go to college. I regret not having that experience. My mother thought doors would automatically open for me as a result of what I had accomplished in 1960, but there was no one around to help lead me through those doors as I was led through the doors of William Frantz" (pg 56-57). (5) Ruby talks about her feelings regarding 1960, " For a long time, I was tempted to feel bitter about the school integration experience, not understanding why I had to go through it and go through it alone. Now I know it was meant to be that way. People are touched by the story of the black child who was so alone (pg 60).
Curriculum Suggestion:
US National History Standards, Grades K-4, Standard 4B: Identify ordinary people who have believed in the fundamental democratic values such as justice, truth, equality, the rights of the individual, and responsibility for the common good, and explain their significance.

US National History Standards, Grades 5-12, Postwar United States, Standard 4A: Explain the resistance to civil rights in the South between 1954 and 1965

Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali

Title: Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali
2008 Corretta Scott King Honor Book
Author: Charles R. Smith, Jr.
Published: 2007
Group: African American

African American cultural examples in 12 Rounds: (1)12 Rounds is written in rhyme in the tradition of African American linguistic styles--a style that Muhammad Ali is renown for aptly delivering. Employing rhyme and rhythm when conversing is a unique African American linguistic style that can be traced backed to the oral storytelling traditions of West African griots . (2) Muhammad Ali is known for his verbal sparring and verbal agility. He makes herculean claims about his abilities "...I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick, I'm so mean I make medicine sick" This traditional African American linguistic style is known as rapping. (3) Ali verbally taunted his opponents "So deal with these fists smacking your ugly face; I'm taking you down for the crown to represent my black race." . In the African American oral tradition this is called playing the dozens and/or signifyin'. (4) Muhammad Ali won a 1960 Olympic gold medal, "To make America the greatest is my goal, so I beat the Russian and I beat the Pole, and for the USA won the medal of gold." During Jim Crow, in spite of their national and international cultural influences, Black athletes and entertainers were still subject to segregation and discrimination in America. After being embraced and hailed as a hero by the international community, Ali returned home from the 1960 Olympics and was dismissed by jeers such as "I don't care who you are boy; get out of here!" In 12 Rounds Smith writes, "...the country you fought for still put people, like laundry, in two separate piles..." (5) In 1967 Ali was drafted into the Vietnam War but Ali refused to report to duty. In 12 rounds Smith writes, "...you said no to the army refusing to fight an unknown enemy for a country that treated you with anger and hostility..." and "...eyes across the globe witnessed you take a stand when you said no to war for religious beliefs and defied your government by standing for peace." (6) Smith writes about Ali, "You shed your slave name of Cassius Clay, giving birth to a new belief in Islamic religion, reflected in your name when reborn as Muhammad Ali." As a testament to the positive affirmation of Black identity, self -expression, and African roots, some African Americans changed their names. Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali. (7) The political climate of the 1960s marked an increase in African American engagement in black nationalist movements that promoted political, social, and economic empowerment and spiritual growth for Black Americans. Malcolm X, was a friend and spiritual counselor to Ali. (8) In 12 rounds Smith writes about the leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad, "Elijah the messenger fed the teachings of the Nation to hungry black souls filled with years of frustration, souls stung by hate since the days of the plantation, souls beaten like animals in savage humiliation." Liberation from social oppression is often a part of African American theology. (9) The struggle for equality was given a platform and momentum through the careers of popular African American athletes and entertainers. In 12 rounds Smith writes of Ali, "The time is now to not think about you, but what the power of winning the title belt can do: uplift black people." (10) In the 1960s people that did not conform to mainstream American in terms of religion, support for the war, etc were dubbed anti American. The fight between Ali and Joe Frazier was coined "the fight of the century." Joe Frazier was coined the patriot, the baptist. Ali was dubbed the draft dodger, the Muslim.