In Birmingham, Alabama, on September 15, 1963, it is one little girl's 10th birthday. Excited about Youth Day at the 16th Street Baptist Church, she puts on her patent leather shoes and practices her choir solo. But her birthday will include no cake and no candles this year. A group of men have tucked a bundle of dynamite under the church's steps, and when it goes off, four girls are dead: AddieMae Collins, Carole Robertson, Cynthia Wesley, and Denise McNair. Smoke clogs the throats of worshippers as they search for sisters, brothers, mothers, and fathers in the crumbled plaster and broken glass. Author Carole Boston Weatherford, an award-winning poet and children's author, shares this story in poignant free verse poetry from the viewpoint of a fictional child eyewitness. Listeners will be transported back to this dark period in American history by Lizzie Cooper Davis' moving narration. "These children-unoffending; innocent and beautiful-were the victims of one of the most vicious, heinous crimes ever perpetrated against humanity ... in spite of the darkness of this hour we must not despair. We must not become bitter ..."-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., eulogy for victims of the 16th Street Church bombing "To all who made the ultimate sacrifice for freedom. The struggle continues." -author's dedication
Jesse Owens' mother frequently told him, "Put your best foot forward." So Jesse followed her advice, worked hard, and made his dreams come true as one of the greatest Olympic champions of all time. But it wasn't easy, as Jesse had to overcome many obstacles. Even though World War II hadn't started yet, Adolf Hitler controlled Germany during the 1936 Olympics. He wanted to prove during the games that Germans were a superior "race" to other people of the world. Little did he know that a black American would smash those claims by dominating the games as no athlete had before. Carter G. Woodson Award-winning author Carole Boston Weatherford captures the incredible story of a true American hero who raced his way into our history books. Narrator Kevin R. Free's thrilling performance will have listeners cheering Jesse's every step.
Negro league baseball players didn't always get the respect that major leaguers received. And yet many-including Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, Ernie Banks, and Roy Campanella-quickly became standouts in the major leagues after 1947. Others didn't get to prove their mettle in the majors at all-or not until long past their prime. Leroy "Satchel" Paige mixed his blazing fastball with 29 other devastating pitches to win 42 games and strike out 402 batters in 1936. Credited with 175 stolen bases in one year, speedster James "Cool Papa" Bell delighted fans by scoring from first base on a bunt. And powered by steroid-free meals, Josh Gibson hit 75 homeruns in 1931-with one blast sailing 580 feet and another shattering a seat in Yankee Stadium. New York Times best-selling author Carole Boston Weatherford compiles an enthralling summary of Negro league history that includes fascinating tidbits about prominent pitchers, hitters, utility players, teams, and traditions.
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