Secondary Critical Book
My Soul is Rested: Movement of the Days in the Deep South remembered, by Howell Raines.
Since my topic focuses on the “sit ins” and how they impacted the culture of the South, I wanted to find a book that came from a different perspective other than African Americans. During my extended research I came across Howell Raines’s book about the Negro experience and how African Americans has made a difference in the formation of American history especially in the South. The book depicts the struggles of African Americans as it is told through the story of many people that agreed with the Civil Rights Movement; and those who disagreed with the movement.
I think this book is fundamental because it depicts the “deep south” through oral history by interviewing many people that were apart of the movement. The book begins with the “Montgomery Bus Boycott” through the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I mention the “Montgomery Bus Boycott” because it was a “sit in” on the bus that brought national headlines. In the book from Raines he has an interview with Rosa Parks. Rosa Parks was the lady that refused to give up her seat to a white male bus rider. In the book she speaks of her works with the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) but what surprised me was her acknowledgement that she was not the first person to “sit in” on a bus and refuse her seat. In actuality, it was hundreds of men and woman that refused their seats way before she did; her actions were recognized through the media more because of her relationship with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the NAACP.
On the other hand, Raines’s book has a connection to Atlanta because during the brainstorming process for the newspaper one of the chief editors of the Atlanta Journal Constitution, wanted to depict the courage, injustice and reformation of the South without creating classification among citizens and fueling the “boiling pot” of racism. During this period, journalists were very cautious about what they wrote in the paper in fear of suffering from retaliation. In addition, Raines was a journalist for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. He had a connection with demonstrators that later became Southern Politicians. The interviews of this book includes; Hamilton E Holmes, Andrew Young, Dr. Martin Luther King and many more. But if you are familiar with Atlanta these few people were very prominent with the development of Atlanta. Andrew Young was a former Mayor of Atlanta, while Dr. King was the leader of “non-violent” movements and the creator of the phenomenal speech “I Have a Dream.” These people fought for the justice of American but they maily focused on the hatred of the South. In the introduction of the book Raines states, “My Soul is Rested is a powerful document of social and political history, as well as a magnificent tribute to those who made history happen.” The clip below will show some images of the “deep south.”
This clip examines some of the comments that were given to Raines within his book My Soul is Rested. The people that gave an oral account about the “sit ins” and abuse, they mention that people who were suppose to protect them were against them. They speak about the police officers that promoted violence. In this clip you see segregated signs for the Gryhound, police station, cleaners, restaurants and more. But the one thing that stands out is the sign that says, “we are all brothers in Christ.” Within Raines’s book many of the people speak about how religion allowed them to become connected to the movement. They state it was their faith that pulled them through the pain and abuse; it was faith that allowed them to continue fighting for change.
If I wanted to consider this book in the civil rights movement as it pertains to “sit ins” I will have to utilize this book to give me insight into the minds and behaviors of some of the people that endured this ball of hatred and from those that supported the hatred. It also helps the author (me) gather creative approaches to the “sit ins” of the South. I could take the interview of one person in the book and breakdown the effectiveness of their involements with the “sit ins.” This book allows the individual to get direct commentation from the person that experienced it “hands on.” On the other hand, that is the only information that this book could provide. Does this book make a huge difference in the movement? Does it breakdown the effectiveness of the “sit ins” in the South? Unfortunately, this book only offers oral information from one perspective about the history of the Civil Rights Movement. This book is an abundance of interviews that maybe helpful but does it add value to my presentation? That’s the question I am considering for the next post.
The publishers information is: http://www.penguin.com/book/my-soul-is-rested-by-howell-raines/9780140067538
