Despite the progress made in recent history, the United States still grapples with issues of civil rights, and we're reminded of this as we navigate matters such as voting rights legislation. We still have miles to go to overcome oppression and bias in this country. Change begins with education, and what better way to make a change than to keep our children informed and educated through films and literature? The following list of recommended civil rights books and movies can help teach your kids about the civil rights movement and Black history.
The resources are geared for multiple age groups and include picture books, chapter books, and family-friendly movies. Hopefully, they will spark conversations with your child and help you to discuss complex issues.
What is the civil rights movement?
Civil rights movie: The Watsons Go to Birmingham
This novel has the unique distinction of being one of the first civil rights books to be made into a civil rights movie specifically for kids and families.
It has a PG rating, and the main violence in the movie is the bombing of the church in Birmingham. I recommend reading the book first. Bonus for adults who loved HBO’s The Wire: It’s fun to see Avon Barksdale as an upstanding citizen.
Civil rights leaders for kids: John Lewis' March Trilogy
John Lewis was a Georgia Congressperson and civil rights leader who marched across the Southern states to challenge segregation. His graphic novel trilogy, March, will appeal to middle-grade students as it chronicles the civil rights era in a comic book format many kids will appreciate.
Laura Byrd is a California-based mom and librarian who sees the value in providing books in this format to cover hard-hitting topics.
"Graphic novels are the most popular books in our library. For some readers, a thick book with lots of text feels overwhelming; but storytelling through text and pictures feels more compelling and accessible," Byrd, a mom of three, told Mom.com. "I see voracious consumers of graphic novels who wouldn’t pick up a traditional book. For them, worlds of fantasy, history, science, even the classics come alive. It’s so much fun to watch."
This Is the Dream
With both illustrations and collages, this beautiful book by Diane Z. Shore tells the story of segregation in the United States and the courageous acts of the civil rights movement. It’s a great book to teach young readers about this time in our history and especially perfect for kids ages 4–8.
Civil rights for kids: I Am Ruby Bridges
No stranger to children’s literature, Ruby Bridges has released a new children's book titled, I am Ruby Bridges, which chronicles her perspective during the civil rights era.
“It's not just about my experience integrating schools,” Bridges said upon the book's release. "It's also about the innocent ways that a child sees the world. Writing as my 6-year-old self reminded me how differently kids interpret things than adults do.”
What this book reminds us, apart from telling Bridge's story and teaching kids about the civil rights movement, is that these events didn’t happen that long ago. Despite the black-and-white film and photo depictions, Ruby Bridges is in her 60s and published this book in 2022, making her close in age to many of our kids’ grandparents.
The Ruby Bridges Disney movie
This Disney's Ruby Bridges civil rights movie is a great way to follow up Bridges' new book. If you're homeschooling your children, include lesson plans with discussion questions, and additional Black history resources, books, and activities for a complete unit study.
A civil rights timeline for kids: We March
Shane W. Evans' beautifully illustrated picture book with simple text (only 57 words) is perfect for young readers ages 4–8. It tells the story of the March on Washington and explores the civil rights timeline for kids in a first-person plural narrative that is easy to understand.
