Alabama's Civil Rights Trail: An Illustrated Guide to the Cradle of Freedom

Alabama: The Forge of History

by Frye Gaillard, Juan Williams (Foreword)

Alabama’s great civil rights events in a compact and accessible narrative, paired with a practical guide to Alabama’s preserved civil rights sites and monuments
 
No other state has embraced and preserved its civil rights history more thoroughly than Alabama. Nor is there a place where that history is richer. Alabama’s Civil Rights Trail tells of Alabama’s great civil rights events, as well as its lesser-known moments, in a compact and accessible narrative, paired with a practical guide to Alabama’s preserved civil rights sites and monuments.
 
In this history of Alabama’s civil rights movement , Cradle of Freedom (University of Alabama Press, 2004), Frye Gaillard contends that Alabama played the lead role in a historic movement that made all citizens of the nation, black and white, more free. This book, geared toward the casual traveler and the serious student alike, showcases in a vividly illustrated and compelling manner, valuable and rich details. It provides a user-friendly, graphic tool for the growing number of travelers, students, and civil rights pilgrims who visit the state annually.
 
The story of the civil rights movement in Alabama is told city by city, region by region, and town by town, with entries on Montgomery, Birmingham, Selma, Tuscaloosa, Tuskegee, and Mobile, as well as chapters on the Black Belt and the Alabama hill country. Smaller but important locales such as Greensboro, Monroeville, and Scottsboro are included, as are more obscure sites like Hale County’s Safe House Black History Museum and the birthplace of the Black Panther Party in Lowndes County

Genres: History

380 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[Jj Kwashnak · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the history of Civil Rights, Alabama can rightfully be considered "ground zero." From Tuskegee's Airmen in World War II (and the shameful Syphilis study which began in the 1930's), the "Scottsboro Boys" case and Rosa Parks and the Birmingham bus boycott to Bloody Sunday in Selma, the Selma to Montgomery march, Freedom Riders being beaten and water hoses and dogs being unleashed on marchers - Alabama's involvement in Civil Rights extends throughout the 20th century. Now these stories are gathered together for the state to guide the reader across the highs and lows of this aspect of American history. Other books ("On The Road to Freedom", "Weary Feet, Rested Souls") have very ably guided the traveler to sites of importance in the Civil Rights Movement across the south, this book benefits from the focus on the single state of Alabama. The result is an invaluable guide to this history in the state. Each area of the state that is explored is accompanied by a map of the area with the landmarks being talked about located on the map. Each story is given a quick synopsis, then a more detailed 4-5 page retelling, and then commentary and photos of places being written about. The extra space allows the author to focus on some of the people and events that are lesser known and often less explored in other guides. The writing is lively and engaging and show the author's passion for the these stories, and the first hand research done in preparation. The recollections of the Reverend John Cross of the bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church that killed four little girls is 1963 brings a gut wrenching perspective to the event that is often missing in other narratives. The history is not all bombs, fire hoses and lynching. Gaillard also includes the triumphs of native sons like Jesse Owens and Joe Lewis. For those interested in walking the ground of Civil Rights history in Alabama, this book is an invaluable reference to help prepare and plan the trip, and an indispensible guide to hold when exploring historic ground.

[Dan Ream · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good guide to Alabama civil rights sites, with more photos than found in other such guides. For each location, the story behind the site and what to see there now are featured. Includes mentions of sites that are now abandoned or in disrepair, as well as those that are often visited by tourists.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part travel guide, but mostly history lesson about events related to the civil rights movement in Alabama, mainly in the 20th century. Most of the history I was unfamiliar with, although I probably learned some of it in school a long time ago. My one complaint is that the book is organized by location, which makes sense for a travel guide, but it meant that the history bits jumped around the timeline. At times, I found it hard to follow what happened to whom and when.

[Julie H. Ernstein]

Wow! This is a beautiful book--well written, well-illustrated, makes you want to load up the car and go. It's also one of those "reference" books that has just the right font that draws you into the book. This will be a fast read.