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6th out of 43 books
—
11 voters
The Silence of Our Friends
As the civil rights struggle heats up in Texas, two families—one white, one black—find common ground.
This semi-autobiographical tale is set in 1967 Texas, against the backdrop of the fight for civil rights. A white family from a notoriously racist neighborhood in the suburbs and a black family from its poorest ward cross Houston’s color line, overcoming humiliation, degrad...more
This semi-autobiographical tale is set in 1967 Texas, against the backdrop of the fight for civil rights. A white family from a notoriously racist neighborhood in the suburbs and a black family from its poorest ward cross Houston’s color line, overcoming humiliation, degrad...more
Paperback, 208 pages
Published
January 17th 2012
by First Second
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11th out of 83 books
—
11 voters
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I'd recommend this to readers who are looking for a factual/historical account of the Civil Rights movement, but I didn't think it had the emotional investment and power of books like Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry and To Kill a Mockingbird. However, the artwork did, at times, create powerful imagery which added to the story.
I did read it in one sitting, so that might have influenced my opinion. When I was done, I wished there would have been another 100 pages or so to delve into the families a bit...more
I did read it in one sitting, so that might have influenced my opinion. When I was done, I wished there would have been another 100 pages or so to delve into the families a bit...more
"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends."
Set in a racially-divided and charged Houston, in 1968, this graphic novel follows two storylines: Jack Long, a white television news reporter, covering the the events around civil rights protests in the city, and Larry Thompson, an African-American teacher at Texas Southern University, who is an organizer of the protests. The two form an uneasy and unexpected friendship, and their paths intersect both in...more
Set in a racially-divided and charged Houston, in 1968, this graphic novel follows two storylines: Jack Long, a white television news reporter, covering the the events around civil rights protests in the city, and Larry Thompson, an African-American teacher at Texas Southern University, who is an organizer of the protests. The two form an uneasy and unexpected friendship, and their paths intersect both in...more
I majored in history education as an undergrad, so when I come across historical themed books, I can’t shake the part of me that says ‘This would be great in a classroom library, this could hook reluctant learners.’ See, that’s exactly what I thought when I finished The Silence Of Our Friends by Mark Long and Jim Demonakos with art by Nate Powell, a graphic novel detailing a neighborhood suburb of Houston, Texas rife with racial tension in 1968 after SNCC protests.
Read the rest of my review here
Read the rest of my review here
A graphic novel set in 1968 Houston, Texas during the peak of the Civil Rights movement, following the interactions of two black and white families on opposite ends of the town who are brought together, torn apart, then reunited over the struggle for human rights and the strength and courage to tell the truth and brutality of that story. Based on true events from the authors' childhoods.
The title is taken from a lesser known but powerful speech given by Martin Luther King Jr. a year before the...more
The title is taken from a lesser known but powerful speech given by Martin Luther King Jr. a year before the...more
This graphic novel is based on the author's father's experiences being a newscaster in Texas during the Civil Rights movement. Jack Long is the newscaster who films the sit-in by Texas Southern University African American students and civil right activists after the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee was banned from campus. This non-violent protest became violent after an undercover policeman was shot and police stormed the men's dormitory. It was believed that the policeman was shot by s...more
Dec 04, 2012
Ed
added it
Long, M & Demonakos, J. (2012). The silence of our friends. (Ill. by N. Powell). New York: First Second/Roaring Brook Press. 201 pp. ISBN: 978-1-59643-618-3. (Paperback); $16.99.
Maybe one day we will have a graphic novel about a white and black family in Texas that is NOT set during the Civil Rights movement. Maybe we will argue about who makes the best barbecue. However, the book we DO have IS set during the Civil Rights movement and it is an important story, especially for this graphic nov...more
Maybe one day we will have a graphic novel about a white and black family in Texas that is NOT set during the Civil Rights movement. Maybe we will argue about who makes the best barbecue. However, the book we DO have IS set during the Civil Rights movement and it is an important story, especially for this graphic nov...more
"The Silence of Our Friends" is a young adult graphic novel that takes place during the Civil Rights movement in Texas in 1967. The novel describes the racial persecution two families, one white and one black, face and how they find friendship despite their differences. The novel tells the story through the point of view of a child named Mark Long, whose father is reporting the story of five black students accused of murdering a white policeman. While "The Silence of Our Friends" is considered s...more
This is a very specific story.
For some reason, when I was reading about this book prior to reading it itself, I had the impression that this was a more comprehensive story about the civil rights struggle in one particular locale. Instead, it's a very personal story about a couple of families and one particular trial after one particular incident. Which doesn't make it a bad book, of course - it just wasn't what I'd expected.
I appreciated the depiction of what being a "race reporter" (I think I...more
For some reason, when I was reading about this book prior to reading it itself, I had the impression that this was a more comprehensive story about the civil rights struggle in one particular locale. Instead, it's a very personal story about a couple of families and one particular trial after one particular incident. Which doesn't make it a bad book, of course - it just wasn't what I'd expected.
I appreciated the depiction of what being a "race reporter" (I think I...more
Houston, 1967, d'un côté, les Blancs, de l'autre, les Noirs. Père de famille à l'esprit ouvert et journaliste pour une télévision locale, Jack est chargé de couvrir les événements qui enflamment les deux communautés. Malgré de nombreux reproches de sa rédaction, il établit des liens de confiance avec Larry, l'un des organisateurs de la lutte pour les droits civiques. De graves incidents vont mettre cette amitié naissante à rude épreuve.
Le scénario, basé en grande partie sur des faits réels, plon...more
Le scénario, basé en grande partie sur des faits réels, plon...more
Set during the civil rights struggle in 1968 Houston, this focuses mainly on a white family and a black family - and the authors manage to show the points of view of both children and adults. There are so many scenes that contain layers of emotion and meaning, such as one in which a black man turned away from a whites-only store takes his anger and frustration out on his son.
Nate Powell's illustrations are so expressive, and really convey the complexity of each character. Sometimes Powell frames...more
Nate Powell's illustrations are so expressive, and really convey the complexity of each character. Sometimes Powell frames...more
Houston in 1968 was a volatile place with strained relations between blacks and whites. Schools were integrated just a few years before and the unrest there reflected much of what was happening in other parts of the country as well. Into this fray enters the white family of a television cameraman who makes friends with a black activist who was editor of an anti-poverty weekly.
The Silence of Our Friends, by Mark Long, Jim Demonakos and Nate Powell is based on the real life story of author Long’s...more
The Silence of Our Friends, by Mark Long, Jim Demonakos and Nate Powell is based on the real life story of author Long’s...more
Brought to life in the phenomenal artistic styling of Nate Powell, The Silence of Our Friends is a story of risk, courage (failed and fulfilled) and the power 'men of virtue' have to change the world one friendship at a time. This one will all kinds of awards.
Powell's art breaths life and tone into the story. His artwork deftly creates a world tinged in nostalgia, but honest in the ugly places. Magic happens in his characters eyes, the shading that creates shadows and light, panel placements an...more
Powell's art breaths life and tone into the story. His artwork deftly creates a world tinged in nostalgia, but honest in the ugly places. Magic happens in his characters eyes, the shading that creates shadows and light, panel placements an...more
A semi-biographical retelling of events that occurred during the civil rights era that otherwise might have been relegated to the dustbin of history, The Silence of our Friends tells the story of two separate families who come together over their differences. Set in the months before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, Larry Thompson and Jack Long are two men who believe that there is no difference between blacks and whites in 1968 Houston, Texas. Thompson and Long met one day after the...more
Based on a Martin Luther King Jr quote "...in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends". The Silence of our Friends by Mark Snow and Mark Demonakos with illustrations by Nate Powell is a graphic novel that covers a 1968 in Houston Texas that forged a friendship between a white journalist and a black activist. Five black students were arrested for the shooting of a policeman during a violent confrontation. The evidence proved that the police shot one o...more
First Second has been publishing some excellent graphic novels that are as thought-provoking as they are visually-appealing. Looking back to Refresh, Refresh, the first of the graphic novels I had read from this publisher, to this fall's AMERICUS, THE SILENCE OF OUR FRIENDS will find itself welcome in classrooms where exploration of historical events and social issues are discussed.
Set in 1968, when young boys are playing Vietnam War in their backyards, a reporter and family man finds himself at...more
Set in 1968, when young boys are playing Vietnam War in their backyards, a reporter and family man finds himself at...more
I'm happy to say that this is my first graphic novel. The Silence of Our Friends sheds light on a civil rights controversy in Texas during the 60's. Having never heard of this particular incident, I got a little history lesson out of this as well.
I love reading novels that have to do with civil rights. I love the ranges of emotion and personal and societal growth that are present in this genre. This one delivers. Not only does the reader get a clear view of the time with the discourse between t...more
I love reading novels that have to do with civil rights. I love the ranges of emotion and personal and societal growth that are present in this genre. This one delivers. Not only does the reader get a clear view of the time with the discourse between t...more
Mar 12, 2013
Joella www.cinjoella.com
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
yalsa-best-of-the-best-2013,
graphic-novel
This is a nonfiction graphic novel about a small period of time in Houston, Texas in 1968 when life was pretty tense due to the civil rights struggle. It is the story of two men–one who is white and one who is African-American–and how they came together to try to break the race barrier in their neighborhoods. Of course there is more to the story than that. Each family is also portrayed and readers learn a bit more about the dynamics of the family behind each man.
I enjoyed reading about these sto...more
I enjoyed reading about these sto...more
A very interesting picture of two families dealing with racism and segregation in the deep south. Mark Long, one of the writers, is a character in this "Based on a True Story" graphic as a boy. His father, Jack Long, was a reporter on race relations and did the nearly unthinkable when he reached out to a black college professor. That professor did the nearly unthinkable as well when he welcomed the Long family to his home. Together, these men work to make things better in the community while dea...more
Based on real-life events, this graphic novel is set in Houston during the late 1960s. The author's father, Jack, is the white reporter who befriends a black professor.
Jack is covering civil rights protests in the city. Larry Thompson, a professor at TSU who organized the protests, first talks to Jack because he is the only reporter to show up. The two form an unexpected friendship. When a peaceful sit-in erupts in violence, a police officer is killed and hundreds of students are arrested. Five...more
Jack is covering civil rights protests in the city. Larry Thompson, a professor at TSU who organized the protests, first talks to Jack because he is the only reporter to show up. The two form an unexpected friendship. When a peaceful sit-in erupts in violence, a police officer is killed and hundreds of students are arrested. Five...more
This is a book about the Civil Rights Movement and about a specific event, the trial of the "TSU FIVE." There are lots of books about the Civil Rights Movement and I don't think this one stands out more than others. The artwork is very well done but the story is kind of bland. I suppose that if you are looking for a story for a reluctant reader, and they want realistic, this would be a good choice.
The book leaves you with the feeling that during the time of the movement, any victory, no matter...more
The book leaves you with the feeling that during the time of the movement, any victory, no matter...more
There are a few stories about the civil rights movement we all know, and this isn't one of them.
Yet.
One of the things that I found most interesting about this book (besides that Nate Powell's art is gorgeous -- as always!) is just how much of an unknown story this is. We all know about the civil rights movement -- that's what grade school was for -- but when you start reading about everything that was going on in the sixties, it turns out that Rosa Parks and sit-ins are only a part of the whole...more
Yet.
One of the things that I found most interesting about this book (besides that Nate Powell's art is gorgeous -- as always!) is just how much of an unknown story this is. We all know about the civil rights movement -- that's what grade school was for -- but when you start reading about everything that was going on in the sixties, it turns out that Rosa Parks and sit-ins are only a part of the whole...more
Appeal Characteristics: artistic visualization, civil rights, African-Americans, black panthers, stereotypes, racial discrimination
I was intrigued about how to make a story like this into a work of art. I was thoroughly impressed because I usually don't do a lot of black and white graphic novels...I usually love LUSH illustrations...BUT this book did with two colors what some people couldn't do with a rainbow. I mean the whole book was just edgy and you could feel the strain and tension between...more
I was intrigued about how to make a story like this into a work of art. I was thoroughly impressed because I usually don't do a lot of black and white graphic novels...I usually love LUSH illustrations...BUT this book did with two colors what some people couldn't do with a rainbow. I mean the whole book was just edgy and you could feel the strain and tension between...more
Giving away 5 copies: http://tiny.cc/rra9o
Set in Houston, Texas, Silence of Our Friends takes place during a time where racial tensions are high and people's patience is at an all-time low - 1968. Jack is a local television newsman assigned to report on "racial news." After a police officer is shot and killed during a non-violent rally at Texas State University, the town is in an uproar and people start pointing fingers. Actually, all fingers are pointing to five innocent African-American men. J...more
Set in Houston, Texas, Silence of Our Friends takes place during a time where racial tensions are high and people's patience is at an all-time low - 1968. Jack is a local television newsman assigned to report on "racial news." After a police officer is shot and killed during a non-violent rally at Texas State University, the town is in an uproar and people start pointing fingers. Actually, all fingers are pointing to five innocent African-American men. J...more
This graphic novel was gorgeous & beautifully conceived. I'm not going to break down the story because it's simple enough, but the portrayal of racial conflict from both sides felt tense, nuanced, & important. I would add a trigger warning for use of racial slurs & for anyone that has ever experienced overt racism or racial violence- the portrayal of the emotions & tensions that charge racism felt very real & actually gave me a bit of anxiety!
There were parts that rankled me...more
There were parts that rankled me...more
Jul 31, 2012
Rita_book
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
graphic novel fans, teens
Recommended to Rita_book by:
NYTBR
Shelves:
library-book
This book is an interesting "graphic history" of a violent racial incident and its resulting trial in 1968 in Houston, Texas. It comes from Mark Long's personal history (his father was a local newscaster as well as a witness in the trial of the "TSU Five") and has some of the charms of a childhood memoir. But the story also records the ugly racial discord that was prevalent in Houston at the time, and Nate Powell's illustrations seek to accurately display the violent encounters, both small and l...more
Set in a volatile 1960s Houston, this collaborative effort explores the relationship between a white reporter and an African American activist and their families and the events leading up to an officer's death at a student protest and the racially charged trial after. The personal details, interactions of the children, and imagery that captures the tension that words could not are fabulous. What fails, ever so slightly are some none too subtle attempts to tie this specific incident into the land...more
A fictional account of a true events from the 1960s. The author takes his childhood memories of living in Houston during a volatile moment in the Civil Rights struggle and highlights a police killing during a protest and the resulting trial (killing was accidentally caused by another policeman, it turns out). Mixed in are the stories of two families, one white and the other black, one with a father who is a tv reporter and the other with a professor who is involved with SNCC. There may be some c...more
1968 in Houston, Texas when a white family from a racist neighborhood and a black family from Houston's poorest ward befriend one another. A violent episode at Texas Southern University breaks out where their friendship is tested. Eventually they help win the freedom of 5 black students unjustly charged with murdering a cop. (Language)
"In the end, we will remember not words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Themes: civil rights, racism, Ku KluxKlan,1960s...more
"In the end, we will remember not words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Themes: civil rights, racism, Ku KluxKlan,1960s...more
As the civil rights struggle heats up in Texas, two families—one white, one black—find common ground.
This semi-autobiographical tale is set in 1967 Texas, against the backdrop of the fight for civil rights. A white family from a notoriously racist neighborhood in the suburbs and a black family from its poorest ward cross Houston’s color line, overcoming humiliation, degradation, and violence to win the freedom of five black college students unjustly charged with the murder of a policeman.
The Sil...more
This semi-autobiographical tale is set in 1967 Texas, against the backdrop of the fight for civil rights. A white family from a notoriously racist neighborhood in the suburbs and a black family from its poorest ward cross Houston’s color line, overcoming humiliation, degradation, and violence to win the freedom of five black college students unjustly charged with the murder of a policeman.
The Sil...more
I don't often read graphic novels but I made an exception for this one because not only is it a book about the Civil Rights era, but even more intriguing, it is set in Houston! As a transplant to the city, I do not know much about the history (Civil Rights era or otherwise)of Houston. I was amazed, shocked, but by the end of the book, uplifted. This is a great story, an important story, and one that I think every Houstonian should read. The story focuses on two families, one white and one black,...more
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“In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies...but the silence of our friends.
- Martin Luther King, Jr.”
—
26 people liked it
More quotes…
- Martin Luther King, Jr.”
