The March Against Fear

Starred review from November 7, 2016
In a powerful and timely book, Bausum (Stonewall) focuses her attention on the last great march of the civil rights era, the March Against Fear, from Memphis, Tenn., to Jackson, Miss., in June 1966. Initiated by James Meredith in an effort to make Mississippi a less fearful place for black Americans, the march swelled to 15,000 people and resulted in 4,000 black Mississippian voter registrations; it also splintered the major civil rights organizations of the day and gave rise to Stokely Carmichael’s Black Power movement. Bausum dissects these internal divisions with great sensitivity, lauding Martin Luther King Jr.’s peacemaking powers while illuminating the conditions that provoked others to more confrontational protest. Abundant details disclose the extent of segregation and racism, the pivotal role of law enforcement authorities, and how fraught protecting the marchers could be: state troopers used tear gas and physical assault to “suppress an act of racial defiance” when marchers tried to pitch their tents on public land. This exemplary look into civil rights history concludes with perspective and encouragement regarding ongoing struggles for social change. Archival photos and source notes are included. Ages 12–up.

Starred review from November 15, 2016
Bausum, the author of two other excellent books about the civil rights movement (Freedom Riders, 2005; Marching to the Mountaintop, 2012), chronicles a largely overlooked but consequential event in the history of the movement. James Meredith's 1966 march from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi, began as a small-scale, peaceful protest for voter registration but quickly grew into one of the South's most important civil rights demonstrations when Meredith was shot in an assassination attempt one day into his trek. It brought together leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Stokely Carmichael, the newly elected leader of SNCC, whose introduction of the words "black power" in a speech during the march ushered in a new era for the movement. In addition to painstakingly chronicling the pivotal moments during the march, Bausum thoughtfully depicts the tensions both between King and Carmichael and within the movement. She offers an insightful, revealing portrait of Meredith, and she describes how the media quickly developed a negative fixation on the phrase "black power." Bausum convincingly shows that the March Against Fear "stands as one of the greatest protests of the civil rights era" and deftly explains the many complex reasons why it was relegated to a footnote rather than a highlight in history. An exceptionally well-written and -researched chronicle of a crucial civil rights turning point. (photos, bibliography, source notes) (Nonfiction. 12-18)

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Starred review from December 1, 2016

Gr 9 Up-An edifying and timely exposition of James Meredith and the March Against Fear and their impact on U.S. history, past and present. Bausum's clear language and smart use of archival photos and pull quotes document how Meredith's single-man walk transformed into a larger endeavor to register and unify black voters and to alleviate the fear felt by African Americans living in a racist society (a notion that would later translate to the concept of Black Power). Readers become a part of the march as Bausum begins each chapter with the date, the distance traveled by the marchers, and their next destination. Evocative quotes from those supporting the march and those in opposition provide additional context on the sentiment felt by each side. The inclusion of racial epithets, curses, and horrific abuse emphasizes the reality of the time (an author's note explains the decision not to alter the language of quotations). Bausum expertly encapsulates the overall theme of the march during a specific episode at the Philadelphia, MS, courthouse: "Dignity over anarchy. Justice over injustice. Love in answer to hate." In the back matter, Bausum discusses her research, which included interviewing Meredith, and how civil rights remain a pertinent issue. VERDICT A must-have volume on James Meredith, the March Against Fear, and the evolution of Black Power for high school students.-Hilary Writt, Sullivan University, Lexington, KY

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2016
Grades 9-12 Ask typical high-school students about the American civil rights movement, and many will mention Martin Luther King Jr. and his I Have a Dream speech. What they may not be so familiar with are the other influential individuals and momentous events that shaped the cause. This account of 1966's 200-mile freedom march from Memphis to Jackson, Mississippi, written in accessible language and peppered with quotes and period photos that bring the action alive, tells how this momentous effort, initiated by James Meredith, united the five factions of the civil rights movement: the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; the Congress of Racial Equality; the National Urban League; the NAACP; and Stokely Carmichael of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. Chronological coverage conveys the fear and danger participants faced and documents Carmichael's first use of the term black power. The brief chapters build on one another, creating a complete picture for readers with limited background knowledge. This compelling account will be equally engaging for classroom resource material or individual research.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)