We've Got a Job

Essential reading on American and Black history, race, protest and youth activism★ Four Starred Reviews ★Editors’ Choice Book ―The New York TimesJane Addams Children’s Book AwardTop 10 Black History Books for Youth ―BooklistBest Books of the Year ―BooklistBest of 2012 ―Kirkus ReviewsBest Books 2012 List ―Publishers WeeklyBest Books of the Year ―School Library JournalParents’ Choice Gold AwardA Junior Library Guild SelectionThe inspiring story of the 1963 Birmingham Children’s March, one of the greatest moments in civil rights history, as seen through the eyes of four young people at the center of the action. From award-winning author Cynthia Levinson.The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March was a turning point in American history. African Americans had had enough of segregation and police brutality, but with their lives and jobs at stake, most adults were hesitant to protest the city’s racist culture. So the fight for civil rights lay in the hands of children like Audrey Hendricks, Wash Booker, James Stewart, and Arnetta Streeter.We’ve Got a Job tells the little-known story of the 4,000 Black elementary, middle, and high school students who answered Dr. Martin Luther King’s call to “fill the jails.” Between May 2 and May 11, 1963, these young people voluntarily went to jail, drawing national attention to the cause, helping bring about the repeal of segregation laws, and inspiring thousands of other young people to demand their rights.Combining extensive research and in-depth interviews with protesters, award-winning author Cynthia Levinson recreates the events of the Birmingham Children’s March from a new and very personal perspective. Archival photography and informational sidebars throughout. Backmatter includes an afterword, author’s note, timeline, map, and bibliography.