Customer Reviews

The School is Not White!: A True Story of the Civil Rights Movement

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THE SCHOOL IS NOT WHITE! is a work of historical fiction that is set in Drew, Mississippi in 1965. In the story, young readers are introduced to Matthew and Mae Bertha Carter, sharecroppers and parents who only want the best for their children. The Carter's believed that in order for their children to have success in life they needed the best possible education. Because of this, they decided to go against local convention and send their children to "all white schools." This choice did not go unpunished, the children were ostracized by both classmates and teachers, and the family was forced to move when the owner of the land would no longer allow them to sharecrop. However, as a result of the faith and perseverance of the family and assistance from local and national groups who supported their cause, things began to change. The book concludes with an author's note and a brief history of the Carter family, which lets readers know what happened in the real lives of the people who inspired the book.

Doreen Rappaport has written a story that teaches children that even ordinary people can stand up and make a real difference in their community. Further, the story highlights the importance of faith, strength in times of adversity, and courage. Curtis James does a wonderful job illustrating the book. Through his artistry, readers can see the story unfold and see the emotions the characters feel through the expressions depicted in the richly detailed pictures. THE SCHOOL IS NOT WHITE! is a great introduction to the Civil Rights Movement, and particularly the important role children played in it.

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers

I thought this book was a very good description of how hard it was to get an education in the South if you were black. They way the way the white children treated the black kids makes me wonder if any education went on. Still, the education was better than what blacks kids received in the black schools so the kids in the family persisted in attending the white schools. The result was a family who went on to university and college. This book tells a pretty full picture of the distress and cruelty of the times. What it could have done a little better is describe how much better the education in the white schools were and how the children were able to receive a better education there. The book does mention how the mother left school in 8th grade but felt she was only about 3rd grade level. That needed to be included in the story and not just the afterword.