The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963
by Christopher Paul Curtis
Ten year old Kenny Watson lives with his ‘weird’ family in Flint, Michigan. He admires his daddy greatly, especially his sense of humor, but his brother Byron is another story. He is an official juvenile delinquent, and Mamma and Daddy have had enough of his trouble making! So after careful planning by Mamma, the entire Weird Watson Family is loaded in the Great Brown Bomber and headed toward Birmingham Alabama in the summer of 1963 to take By to spend some time with their strict Grandma Sands. However, while in Alabama, there is much civil unrest going on over equal rights for black citizens. While the family is there, something happens that will change their lives forever.
We will discuss the Civil Rights Movement as well as scenarios faced by many black people living in the South during a time when the Ku Klux Klan was a threat. We will additionally have conversations about prejudice that existed then and now, for students and adults. We will have discussions about famous black Americans and their work to bring equality to our country during a time when people, including children, were not judged by the content of their character, but by the color of their skin. (*paraphrased from M.L.King Jr.'s speech, "I Have a Dream")
We will discuss the Civil Rights Movement as well as scenarios faced by many black people living in the South during a time when the Ku Klux Klan was a threat. We will additionally have conversations about prejudice that existed then and now, for students and adults. We will have discussions about famous black Americans and their work to bring equality to our country during a time when people, including children, were not judged by the content of their character, but by the color of their skin. (*paraphrased from M.L.King Jr.'s speech, "I Have a Dream")