by Amy Littlesugar and Floyd Cooper
review by Stephanie Sumner
History comes alive in Freedom School, Yes! By Amy Littlesugar and Floyd Cooper in this story about a volunteer teacher who risked her life to bring education to a group of people who had been denied their civil rights.
As part of the 1964 Summer Project, nineteen-year-old Annie is taken in by the only family in Chicken Creek willing to house the white teacher. Young Jolie, is scared to have this stranger in her house and rightly so, as threats and vandalism ensure shortly after the teacher arrives. She watches Annie and her community overcome large obstacles to open Freedom School. She learns stories of people like her who changed the world and the injustices that befall those without fair skin. It lights a fire inside of her and she’s transformed from a frightened victim to a brave fighter.
Discussion Questions
- Ask your child(ren) if he or she has had children with different color skin in their classes. Ask he or her is they are treated differently because of the color of their skin.
Deeper Drive
- Why do you think some people in Mississippi didn’t want Freedom School in their
community? - What would you say to the people who threw the brick or burned the church if you’d had the chance?
- Describe a time you went from scared to brave? Which feeling did you like better? What sparked that change?
Spiritual Reflections
- Discuss with your child(ren) how important music was during the Civil Rights Movement and that children learned many of these songs and were encouraged to help lead groups during large gatherings. One song often sung was,.” This Little Light of Mine.”
- Play this version of “This Little Light of Mine ,” by Freedom Signers and encourage your child to sing along with the music (Click here for the lyrics.
- Discuss what might be the meaning behind these words.
- Read Matthew 5:16 “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
Activities
- Read more about the song’s meaning
- Retell the story from Annie’s point of view. What would you have done?
- Draw a picture of Jolie in ten years.
- Make a courage jar. On strips of paper, write things you would tell a friend who was feeling afraid of something. When you need a dose of bravery, pull one out and read it to yourself.
- Learn more about the Mississippi Summer Project by watching the PBS film Freedom Summer. (Excellent documentary for background information about Freedom Summer. Go to 50:53-55:30 on the video to watch section on the Freedom Schools.)