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Take a Seat -- Make a Stand: A Hero in the Family
This book tells of Sarah Keys Evans, an unsung Civil Rights hero. As a young woman in the Women's Army Corps in 1952, she did what Rosa Parks did-three years before Rosa Parks. Sarah Keys Evans kept standing up for her rights until victory was won. Her story shows that an individual can have an impact on history, and that in troubled times ordinary people can step up and accomplish remarkable things. Her story also shows that change is a step-by-step process. Many small contributions along the way help to bring about big shifts in attitudes and laws."Sarah Keys, a courageous Army private, helped set the stage for the civil rights movement in the 1950s by seeking and getting a legal ruling outlawing discrimination on seating on buses and proving that justice can be there for each of us."Wilma L. Vaught, Brigadier General, USAF (retired); President, Women In Military Service For America Memorial Foundation, Inc."Sarah Keys fought her battle against segregation and humiliations as a matter of moral decency and learned first hand about mental and physical fear thus exemplifying extraordinary courage "Representative Major R. Owens, U.S. House of Representatives; from a proclamation issued March 2006
- GenresHistory
94 pages, Paperback
First published December 1, 2006
18 people want to read
About the author
Amy Nathan
37 books10 followersMy books cover a wide range of topics, from women's history to dance to allowances to how to make practicing a musical instrument — or doing homework — less of a hassle.
However, all my books have something in common: They introduce you to amazing people whose stories have inspired me and, I hope, will spur you to keep following your dreams, no matter what kinds of obstacles may pop up from time to time that may seem to block your way. These people found ways around the obstacles they encountered. They all have fascinating stories to tell. I'm glad to have had a chance to get to know them so I can share their stories and ideas with you through my books.
With many of the people I write about, I was lucky enough to be able to interview them. I love interviewing people, speaking with them to find out more about what they like to do, how they've handled the different challenges they've faced in their lives, and what advice they have for kids today. I also love reading about people who lived long ago, something I did for COUNT ON US, which tells the story of women who pitched in to defend the nation from the Revolutionary War on. As a kid growing up in Baltimore, my favorite books were biographies and historical fiction. I remember walking down to my neighborhood branch library every week during the summers after fifth, sixth and seventh grades, to check out yet another biography. I also enjoyed seeing plays as a kid, and acting in them too sometimes, which is another great way to see the world from another person’s point of view.
I've learned so much from the people I've written about in my books. I hope their stories — and the advice they have for young people — will help you with challenges you might face. Such people as:
** Astonishing dancers from top ballet and modern dance companies, several of whom didn’t have the stereotypical classical ballet body type, but who still managed to find their way to in the world of dance (you can find out about them in MEET THE DANCERS);
** Outstanding musicians of the New York Philharmonic who, amazingly enough, didn't always like to practice when they were kids and have advice for kids today who may feel that way, too (MEET THE MUSICIANS);
** Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and other classical and jazz soloists, many of whom took a while as kids to get into the groove of regular practicing until they discovered for themselves the joy and the fun of music-making (THE YOUNG MUSICIAN'S SURVIVAL GUIDE);
** Gutsy female pilots who flew fighter planes for the Army in World War II when that was definitely not something most people thought a woman should do (YANKEE DOODLE GALS & COUNT ON US);
** A courageous young woman who stood up for her rights at a lonely bus stop in North Carolina back in the summer of 1952, doing her part in the face of grave danger to help bring about the end of the Jim Crow era (TAKE A SEAT-MAKE A STAND);
** Some mighty clever kids who found ways to make homework less of a chore and uncovered the secret to getting a raise in their allowance THE KIDS' ALLOWANCE BOOK & SURVIVING HOMEWORK).
However, all my books have something in common: They introduce you to amazing people whose stories have inspired me and, I hope, will spur you to keep following your dreams, no matter what kinds of obstacles may pop up from time to time that may seem to block your way. These people found ways around the obstacles they encountered. They all have fascinating stories to tell. I'm glad to have had a chance to get to know them so I can share their stories and ideas with you through my books.
With many of the people I write about, I was lucky enough to be able to interview them. I love interviewing people, speaking with them to find out more about what they like to do, how they've handled the different challenges they've faced in their lives, and what advice they have for kids today. I also love reading about people who lived long ago, something I did for COUNT ON US, which tells the story of women who pitched in to defend the nation from the Revolutionary War on. As a kid growing up in Baltimore, my favorite books were biographies and historical fiction. I remember walking down to my neighborhood branch library every week during the summers after fifth, sixth and seventh grades, to check out yet another biography. I also enjoyed seeing plays as a kid, and acting in them too sometimes, which is another great way to see the world from another person’s point of view.
I've learned so much from the people I've written about in my books. I hope their stories — and the advice they have for young people — will help you with challenges you might face. Such people as:
** Astonishing dancers from top ballet and modern dance companies, several of whom didn’t have the stereotypical classical ballet body type, but who still managed to find their way to in the world of dance (you can find out about them in MEET THE DANCERS);
** Outstanding musicians of the New York Philharmonic who, amazingly enough, didn't always like to practice when they were kids and have advice for kids today who may feel that way, too (MEET THE MUSICIANS);
** Jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and other classical and jazz soloists, many of whom took a while as kids to get into the groove of regular practicing until they discovered for themselves the joy and the fun of music-making (THE YOUNG MUSICIAN'S SURVIVAL GUIDE);
** Gutsy female pilots who flew fighter planes for the Army in World War II when that was definitely not something most people thought a woman should do (YANKEE DOODLE GALS & COUNT ON US);
** A courageous young woman who stood up for her rights at a lonely bus stop in North Carolina back in the summer of 1952, doing her part in the face of grave danger to help bring about the end of the Jim Crow era (TAKE A SEAT-MAKE A STAND);
** Some mighty clever kids who found ways to make homework less of a chore and uncovered the secret to getting a raise in their allowance THE KIDS' ALLOWANCE BOOK & SURVIVING HOMEWORK).
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
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January 16, 2020Recommended by Social Justice Books: https://socialjusticebooks.org/take-s...
June 18, 2024
First there was Homer A. Plessy in 1892. Then there was Sarah Keys Evans in 1952 and then three weeks later there was Rosa Parks. Thank you all for your service and courage.
October 25, 2014
This is another book that gives me faith in self-publishing. I'm sure that it helps that Amy Nathan published several historical books traditionally, and her reasons for self-publishing this one came (I assume) from wanting to get Sarah Keys Evans' story out there more than she wanted to make a "sell." But aside from a less attractive layout, this is a high-quality historical book for tweens, outlining Sarah Keys Evans' story through the experience of her grand-niece, Krystal, finding out about her. To make a long story short, Sarah Keys Evans was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on an interstate bus when that bus entered South Carolina, where segregation was still practiced "as a rule" on public transportation (even though interstate buses were supposed to be exempt from this practice). It took several years and rejections, but eventually, Sarah and her lawyer ended up closing the "loopholes" in such discrimination so that people could not be asked to reseat according to their race on interstate buses when they entered segregated states, and private bus companies couldn't make rules that went against this ruling (which was how the bus company got away with arresting Sarah Keys Evans in the first place--they allowed the bus company's "rules" to override the law).
This is a quick, accessible read that includes snippets of historical documents and photos for those who are interested in going deeper into the story. What I liked best was the way Amy Nathan was able to capture Sarah Keys Evans' character; she was shy and introverted, ashamed to have been arrested, and initially reluctant to "rock the boat" by pursuing the matter. But she did, which is a good reminder that you don't have to be outgoing or brash to stand up for justice.
This is a quick, accessible read that includes snippets of historical documents and photos for those who are interested in going deeper into the story. What I liked best was the way Amy Nathan was able to capture Sarah Keys Evans' character; she was shy and introverted, ashamed to have been arrested, and initially reluctant to "rock the boat" by pursuing the matter. But she did, which is a good reminder that you don't have to be outgoing or brash to stand up for justice.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews