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Small Moments: A Child's Memories of the Civil Rights Movement
by
Mary M. Barrow (Goodreads Author)
Jim Crow. Segregation. Separate but equal. At the dawn of the Civil Rights movement, these words mean little to Mary, an eleven-year-old Southern transplant in New Jersey. Forced to grow up in an place so unlike her old home, Mary clings onto one thing she knows and loves: Amelia, her family's African American housemaid.
At once a stern caretaker and a tender mother-figure, ...more
At once a stern caretaker and a tender mother-figure, ...more
Paperback, 207 pages
Published
March 1st 2014
by Wise Ink
(first published January 20th 2014)
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(showing 1-30)
This is a fantastic collection of memories about growing up just before and during the civil rights movement. The author describes her childhood with her brothers and sisters in NJ with their Nanny Amelia. This is a book about race but it's also about family and childhood and understanding the world. At the back of the book there are book group discussion questions and the very last one asks "are race relations better today? If so, how? If not, what can be done? Considering what happened this we
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"Small Moments " is a collection of one child's memories growing up during the civil rights movement in New jersey. Close to her heart and a huge part of her life was her African American nanny, Amelia.
I found the book absorbing reading. Ms. Barrow is a master storyteller and you could feel the heart that went into the writing.There's an honesty that at times must have been difficult to put down on paper. Rememberances of her father's racism and lack of familial affection, her own youthful escap ...more
I found the book absorbing reading. Ms. Barrow is a master storyteller and you could feel the heart that went into the writing.There's an honesty that at times must have been difficult to put down on paper. Rememberances of her father's racism and lack of familial affection, her own youthful escap ...more
Sometimes when I am reading, I feel as if I am no longer reading the words on the page but I have become a part of the novel. I felt this way while reading this novel which occurs at the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement. The words flowed smoothly and time gently moved along. Amelia had nothing left but this family, her attachment to this world, and the children were her anchor. The connection with her husband and son were gone, their stories were full of heartache and yet her heart loved t
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I received this book as a Goodreads First-Reads giveaway. This memoir explores the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s through the eyes of an 11-year old girl.
Mary's family relocates from Tennessee to New Jersey with their African-American maid, Amelia, at the start of the Civil Rights movement. The young girl has no conception of the turmoil building around her, she only registers the shifting relationship between her parents and Amelia. Southerners to the bone, Mary's father is openly scornful ...more
Mary's family relocates from Tennessee to New Jersey with their African-American maid, Amelia, at the start of the Civil Rights movement. The young girl has no conception of the turmoil building around her, she only registers the shifting relationship between her parents and Amelia. Southerners to the bone, Mary's father is openly scornful ...more
GENRE: Non-Fiction. Not a history book. A life as it was book.
LOOKING AT HER AFRICAN AMERICAN MAID THRU A SMALL WHITE GIRL’S EYES.
SETTING: 1959 – 1964; Segregation in America to Civil Rights era
Amelia MacIntosh aka “Mimi”; a maid for over 12 year. Mary; as she saw Mimi thru her eyes during this period in history.
SYNOPSIS: Amelia MacIntosh moved from Tennessee to New Jersey with the family that she cared for. She loved this family but did they understand her love for them. Did they love her just ...more
LOOKING AT HER AFRICAN AMERICAN MAID THRU A SMALL WHITE GIRL’S EYES.
SETTING: 1959 – 1964; Segregation in America to Civil Rights era
Amelia MacIntosh aka “Mimi”; a maid for over 12 year. Mary; as she saw Mimi thru her eyes during this period in history.
SYNOPSIS: Amelia MacIntosh moved from Tennessee to New Jersey with the family that she cared for. She loved this family but did they understand her love for them. Did they love her just ...more
I loved this book. Beautiful prose and characters. Small Moments reveals both subtle and stark ways that racism affects us--both now and then. Mary Barrow explores complex human experiences through the eyes of a child. A true coming-of-age story; the narrator is innocent, but exposed to deeply provocative and terrible truths about humanity.
what a great book something I will read again
A valuable perspective
Small Moments is a child's recollection of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, aided by her perspective as an adult years later. Ms Barrow has provided bits of information about the racial issues of the times with her recollections to help the reader begin to understand how Amelia felt as a black woman working as a servant for a white family. As a memoir this is a thoughtful tribute to the woman she loved as a child. Every honest attempt to understand another ...more
Small Moments is a child's recollection of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, aided by her perspective as an adult years later. Ms Barrow has provided bits of information about the racial issues of the times with her recollections to help the reader begin to understand how Amelia felt as a black woman working as a servant for a white family. As a memoir this is a thoughtful tribute to the woman she loved as a child. Every honest attempt to understand another ...more
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An exceptionally well-told story of a child—Mary—and her relationship with the black woman, Amelia (Mimi), who takes care of the house, the clothes, the cooking, and most of all the children in Mary’s family. As the book begins the family is moving from Chattanooga to New Jersey because of Mary’s father’s new job. The father is leaving the South, but the South does not leave him: he clings to the white supremacy beliefs he probably learned in childhood and never questions, although he often exhi
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May 18, 2014
David Duncan
rated it
it was amazing
Recommends it for:
all ages
Recommended to David by:
Goodreads
Small Moments by Mary M.Barrow is my seventy - third book that I have received and read from Goodreads. I think the story is a great read for all ages. It is a story of a young white girl, and a black woman who worked for her parents as a housekeeper and a nanny. Her name is Amelia MacIntosh, she played a big role in raising Mary, her brothers and sisters, and playing a big role in the Barrow household.
Mary's family in the 1960's relocated from Tennessee, to New Jersey, when her father quit the ...more
Mary's family in the 1960's relocated from Tennessee, to New Jersey, when her father quit the ...more
Mary M. Barrow was born to a large Southern family in Tennessee. As was customary in the 1950s, the Barrow family employed Amelia. She served as both nanny and housekeeper.
Early in the 1960s, Mary’s family relocated to New Jersey when her father found new employment there. Amelia moved with the family, leaving the south and life as she knew it behind. Times were changing for the Barrows, Amelia, and America. It was the beginning of the Civil Rights Movement.
Mary shares her experiences, as seen ...more
Small Moments was a pleasant surprise. A friend recommended it to me, but I was a bit incredulous - I don't read a lot of books intended for children and teens, and I was afraid I wouldn't like it. My anxieties turned out to be pointless.
Mary M. Barrow wrote this book as a tribute and memorial to Amelia MacIntosh, a black maid who worked for her family during the 1950s and '60s and had a central role in her upbringing. Amelia suffered a great deal in her life, and the author is able to portray ...more
Mary M. Barrow wrote this book as a tribute and memorial to Amelia MacIntosh, a black maid who worked for her family during the 1950s and '60s and had a central role in her upbringing. Amelia suffered a great deal in her life, and the author is able to portray ...more
"Small Moments" is a great read. The story is told from a young girl's perspective. The book addresses issues such as racism, classism, politics, and civil rights. Mary wants her mail, Amelia, to love her like her own but as she grows older she realizes that there are different types of love. With Amelia's help Mary learns her place in the world.
Before a few chapters there are little blurbs about historical events which foreshadow what will be addressed in the next chapter without giving it awa ...more
Before a few chapters there are little blurbs about historical events which foreshadow what will be addressed in the next chapter without giving it awa ...more
This is a touching memoir describing the relationship between a young white girl and the black woman who worked for her parents and played a huge role in raising her. It explained, from a child's naive point of view, the complicated relationship that often existed in these families during this time of civil unrest and changes in laws and attitudes towards segretation. A beautiful tribute to Amelia.
Must read!!
Must read!!
I could not put this book down. I originally got it as a free book, but inadvertently deleted it. I HAD to purchase it, it was simply too good to not be able to finish it. This is an amazing true snapshot of a tumultuous time in our history written from a child growing up in the middle of it. I highly recommend this book!!!!
Must read!!
I could not put this book down. I originally got it as a free book, but inadvertently deleted it. I HAD to purchase it, it was simply too good to not be able to finish it. This is an amazing true snapshot of a tumultuous time in our history written from a child growing up in the middle of it. I highly recommend this book!!!!
I'll never forget Mimi....
I'll never forget Mimi....
I gave this book the highest rating because I love reading love stories of all kinds.
Be prepared to cry for the lost innocence of a child as well as our country.
I would recommend this as a lesson for everyone.
I'll never forget Mimi....
I gave this book the highest rating because I love reading love stories of all kinds.
Be prepared to cry for the lost innocence of a child as well as our country.
I would recommend this as a lesson for everyone.
I won this through a Goodreads Giveaway. I liked the book although I think the title is a tad misleading. This book was more of a memoir of the author's childhood and it didn't tie into what was going on too much with the civil rights movement. There were little snippets here and there, but not much. Overall, I still liked it. It just wasn't I expected.
Small Moments is just that, excerpt stories taken from a young girl's life. Interesting stories that show you how much a caretaker and child can come to truly care about each other even during the Civil Rights Movement era. You also get a sort of history lesson with the little excerpts that she puts before some chapters.
I received this book to review from NetGalley.
I was drawn by cover & description of the book and it did not disappoint. Truly enjoyed how the story was narrated through the child's view. Many historical events, family struggles & triumphs.
Kudos to Mary M. Barrow, job well done.
I was drawn by cover & description of the book and it did not disappoint. Truly enjoyed how the story was narrated through the child's view. Many historical events, family struggles & triumphs.
Kudos to Mary M. Barrow, job well done.
Excellent book that tells the story Mary, an eleven year old girl and her relationship with Amelia, the family's African-American "housemaid" during the Civil Rights movement.
This is based on a true story and is a wonderful book. I not only read it but am keeping it in my personal library.
This is based on a true story and is a wonderful book. I not only read it but am keeping it in my personal library.
This was a wonderful book. Written in separate chapters of memories it depicts a struggling time with many issues we still face today. It is a shame we haven't moved farther ahead as a society.
Must read!
Feb 17, 2015
P Mcfarland
added it
Excellent book. Very moving.
This book is so good that I read it slower than usual. The writing is superb! Won this book from goodreads. Definitely get yourself a copy of this book.
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Mary Barrow is a winner of the Midwest Book Award, an Indie Excellence Award Finalist, and Bronze Medal award winner for Reader's Favorites for 'Small Moments: A Child's Memories of the Civil Rights Movement published by Wise Ink Creative Publishers. She has been a professional writer and editor her entire career. She is also the author of 'Sun Protection for Life: Your Guide to a Lifetime of Heal
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