Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

Wow! What a read. I could feel the degradation, anger, humiliation and helplessness of the African Americans in Montgomery and throughout the south. And for the first time, I realized the importance of the bus as transportation for the majority of African Americans and the complete degradation they suffered daily when riding it. I liked how the author narrated and then traded off with Claudette's own words. Claudette became a real person to me and not just one described only according to an author. To think of the stand that she made when only 16 years old. How powerful for today's youth. You always hear about Rosa Parks, our children are taught about Rosa Parks, but I had no idea that there were 2 teenagers before Parks that paved the way for Parks' protest. How wonderful that a talented writer decided to research Claudette and tell her story which in turn tells the story of a terrible time in our history. A time that still has repercussions today. As evidenced by the insane whitewashed social studies curriculum Texas just approved and the return to neighborhoods schools being pushed down in Raleigh. It is sad that Claudette suffered for her actions both within and outside her own community. Even today, teenagers are making stands and suffering the consequences. (i.e. the female that tried to get into the Citadel; the female who sued her school for not being able to bring her girlfriend to the prom). I am just thankful that she was allowed to redeem herself with her wonderful testimony in the class action lawsuit. By showing a real person, Hoose has allowed us to actually feel what it was like to be a teenager in the segregated south. How often we stereotype people and events without really knowing the truth about either. I always think of that saying, "you will never know another, until you walk in their shoes" or something like that. This book helped me to walk in Claudette's shoes.