Product Description
Publication date: 1918Subjects: Education -- MississippiAfrican Americans -- Education MississippiNotes: This is an OCR reprint. There may be numerous typos or missing text. There are no illustrations or indexes.When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can select from more than a million books for free. You can also preview the book there. ... Read more

Product Description
This collection of writings by eighty-three eighth graders reveal the thoughts, hopes, dreams, and fears of three classes of middle schoolers in a Mississippi school. It is an excellent teaching technique in middle school and high school. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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Originally published in 1831. 16 pages. This volume is produced from digital images from the Cornell University Library Samuel J. May Anti-Slavery Collection ... Read more

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Race has shaped public education in the Magnolia State, from Reconstruction through the Carter Administration. For The Hardest Deal of All: The Battle Over School Integration in Mississippi, 1870-1980 Charles C. Bolton mines newspaper accounts, interviews, journals, archival records, legal and financial documents, and other sources to uncover the complex story of one of Mississippi's most significant and vexing issues.

This history closely examines specific events--the after-math of the Brown v. Board of Education decision, the 1966 protests and counter-demonstrations in Grenada, and the efforts of particular organizations--and carefully considers the broader picture.

Despite a "separate but equal" doctrine established in the late nineteenth century, the state's racially divided school systems quickly developed vast differences in terms of financing, academic resources, teacher salaries, and quality of education. As one of the nation's poorest states, Mississippi could not afford to finance one school system adequately, much less two. For much of the twentieth century, whites fought hard to preserve the dual school system, in which the maintenance of one-race schools became the most important measure of educational quality. Blacks fought equally hard to end segregated schooling, realizing that their schools would remain underfunded and understaffed as long as they were not integrated.

Charles C. Bolton is professor and chair of history and co-director of the Center for Oral History and Cultural Heritage at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg. He is the coauthor of Mississippi: An Illustrated History and coeditor of The Confessions of Edward Isham: A Poor White Life of the Old South. Bolton's work has also appeared in the Journal of Southern History, Journal of Mississippi History, and Mississippi Folklife. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Mississippi's fight to preserve segregated schools
This was required reading for a graduate course in American history.

In this book Charles C. Bolton explores Mississippi's efforts to equalize its segregated schools in order to buttress their argument that these schools are separate but equal. Prior to 1950, efforts to equalize schools concentrated on equalizing spending on the schools. In the post-war period until the 1954 Brown decision, the southern states began to focus on other tangibles of school equalization such as facilities, school consolidation allowing for larger, graded schools and teacher salaries.

The book cites a plethora of evidence of how far the state had to go to bridge the huge crevice between Black and White schools and the many statistics that showed how they failed in this effort. Mr. Bolton notes that the state did not have the resources to bridge the gap and did not want to use federal funding for fear of losing control of their Jim Crow policies. The gap was further exacerbated by funding a great deal of school consolidations for white schools from 1910 until 1944 and allowing 97% of black schools to remain unconsolidated. However, the 1938 Supreme Court decision on Gaines vs. Canada, which held that Missouri's lack of a black law school failed the separate but equal test and post-war calls for better educational opportunities for returning veterans, urged on a redoubling of efforts towards the equalization program.

Interestingly, the White leadership looked for support from Black leaders to maintain Jim Crow education before they were willing to commit millions of dollars toward an equalization program.Recognizing the need for a consolidation in Black schools, the leadership of these schools held private funding campaigns such as fish fries in order to raise the money. The Black leadership also knew that, although they were on their own, by doing so, they did not have to hand over any management functions to White authorities.

A good example explaining why the states equalization efforts were such an abysmal failure occurred in 1946. In that year three million dollars was approved to fund construction improvements in Black schools. However, no mechanism for assuring that counties spent the money on Black school equalization was created. Consequently, only thirty-five percent of this funding was used for the Equalization Program. A similar program to improve salaries for Black schools also failed because of the lack of an enforcement mechanism.

It was not until 1950 that state funding was found to get allocated to Black schools as the state legislature had approved. "By 1953 the total state funds that had been spent on school construction since 1946 were almost evenly divided between black and white projects".1953 improvements in Black teacher salaries did not have such a positive outcome. Of $2.24 million dispersed to the counties only about half of the funding was spent on improvements in teacher salaries. Furthermore, no money was earmarked for consolidating Black schools away from the one-room schools, a key component of any equalization argument.

In concluding the book, Bolton argues that the state's Equalization Program failures " exacerbated black discontent with the Jim Crow schools." The movement of Black schools to make way for new construction of White schools in spite of lip service to equalization further angered Blacks and resulted in Court action. This anger and the sympathy of a wary national public, whose collective consciousness knew equal educational opportunities were critical to a functional Democracy, led to a public demand for change. This public demand and the consequent Court action, laid down the precedent needed for change.

Recommended reading for anyone interested in American history, civil rights history.
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Product Description
All Bartleby has ever known is the life of a pet, but he dreams of being free to swim in deep, fast-moving water. When the boys he lives with watch a TV show called "Turtles of the Mighty Mississippi," Bartleby is sure that the big river must be his real home. One day the youngest boy takes Bartleby for a swim in the nearby pond and forgets him there. Could this be Bartleby's chance to find his way home to the mighty Mississippi? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

My son absolutely loved this book
I haven't seen my 4th grader delve into a book with such gusto since he read the Fudge series by Judy Blume. I found this title on a list of humorous books which boys like, and it truly lived up to its reputation.

Bartleby rocks!
I really enjoyed reading this book because it was funny and had lots of rhymes.The characters were interesting and it was amazing to see a turtle survive when he had been living as a pet and travels with an alligator.The descriptions of the places Bartleby sees is very imaginative .I especially enjoyed the part when he was trying to save the duck eggs and when they hatched they thought Bartleby was a duck also. I was glad that it ended happy butit leaves you wondering about the rest of the journey.Perhaps there can be a sequel here?

Bartleby of the Mighty Mississippi
Bartleby of the Mighty Mississippi was a great book. The characters such as Mother Wak and Bartleby were perfect for the mood of the story and were well described. It was exciting from start to finish and is a great story for anyone of any age. The characters ranges from extremly funny (like the peeper Zip who alway speaks in ryhme) to really creapy (like the alagator Seezer), and at times and Bartleby's wit and quick thinking save him or his friends. I loved it! I have read almost all of Phyllis Shalant's books and this one by far is the best. For those who have read the other books by her this one is a must anf for those who are new to the author will love to start with the one. The suspense can almost kill you sometimes and force you to keep on turing page after page. You'll never want to put this book down! Read this book now!! ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
When the raging Mississippi threatens their secret cache of hard-earned nickels and pennies, Molly and her white friend Garrett risk their lives to retrieve the money. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good Book!
Another thriller from the SURVIVAL! series. These historical survival adventures are awesome. This book isn't as action-packed as the others, but it held particular interest to me becuase I'm of African-American descent like Molly and this adventure is set in just a turbulent time of history. I like that Garrett and Molly are best friends despite their skin color, and I like the fact they they fight together to survive the flood and get out alive.

Another great book from the Survival series.
Most people think it's odd that Garrett Wood and Molly Bride are best friends. The place is Mississippi, the year 1927, and Garrett is whitewhile Molly is black. But they ignore what everyone else says and remainfriends. They're united in their dreams of getting away from their drearylives on cotton farms.For some time now they've been saving money in ajar in the bayou. When the rising waters of the Mississippi threaten to putthe bayou underwater, Garrett and Molly set out on their little homemaderaft to retrieve the money. But instead, they end up being swept down theriver. They encounter dangerous currents filled with debris, poisonoussnakes, and storms. Their journey will truly test their courage andfriendship. An excellant survival story with historical details about lifein the south in the 1920s.

Another exciting, page turning Survival! book.
Molly Bride and Garrett Wood are both from poor families barely making a living on Mississippi cotton farms in 1927. Molly and Garrett dream of getting away from Mayersville, their little home town. So for three years, they've been saving up nickels and pennies and hiding them in a secret place. But the rising, raging Mississippi threatens the money, and Molly and Garrett go to retrieve it. But the current wins, and they find themselves headed up the turbulent Mississippi on a little homemade raft. Can Molly and Garrett survive? I couldn't put this book down! The part with the water moccasin was so scary, I felt as if I was there. A very, very exciting book! ... Read more

Product Description
Jeremy Simms watches from the porch of the general store as the passengers board the weekly bus from Jackson. When several white passengers arrive late, the driver roughly orders the black passengers off to make room. Then, in the driving rain, disaster strikes, and Jeremy witnesses a shocking end to the day's drama. Set in Mississippi in the 1930s, this is a gripping story of racial injustice.

"Taylor, a powerful storyteller, again combines authentic incidents to create a taut plot....Her cry for justice always rings true."--Kirkus Reviews

"A powerful story about the segregated South of the 1930s."--Publishers Weekly ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

It was a great little book, thanks!
Although it is considered a children's book, I loved it.I wish the book was bigger and the story longer, but it is what it is.Thanks,

At a time of Barack Obama being nominated for President, it is good to look back at what was
This book is about the old south, a place of deep-seated segregation and racial bias. It is told through the eyes and voice of a lightly educated white boy named Jeremy whose father despises blacks. Yet, the boy clearly has not had the race hatred deeply ingrained into his persona, as he tries to be friendly and feels bad when the whites mistreat a black man (Josias) for simply stating that he has a job. His father beats Jeremy for simply talking kindly to Josias. The time context is that of the 1930's when unemployment was high, so the whites despise the black man for "taking a job away from a white man."
It is raining hard and the store is also a bus stop. When an elderly black woman arrives to get on the bus, she is accompanied by several of her grandchildren. They are forced to go to the back of the bus and then, when additional whites want to take the bus, the driver forces all the black people off the bus. Josias is physically thrown off into the mud.
However, when the bus slides off a bridge into the swollen creek, it is Jeremy and Josias who are the first responders, Josias doing all he can to save the very people who treated him so badly.
At a time when the Democratic party has nominated a black man as their candidate for President of the United States, it is good to keep reminding ourselves of the significance of this event. Only a few decades ago, blacks were treated in a manner depicted in this book and some were even killed for standing up for themselves. This book should be read by all elementary students as a reminder of the way things were.

The Event that stops discrimination
The genre of `Mississippi Bridge' is realistic fiction. In Mississippi during the 1930's whites were given special treatment over the other people who were `of color'. The theme is hope because it does get better for everyone at the end. In the story the conflict is that blacks are mistreated and that whites have more `power' over what happens; also that when more people who were white came on the bus Josias, Stacey and their grandmother off the bus in order to make more room. We did like the ending and how the town comes toghter. Though, what we did not like was how the Josias, Stacey and their grandmother had to get off just to make more room for other people who were not in the same `social class' as them. This book was very good and had many exciting parts in the story; all kids would love reading this book.

mississippi bridge
the book in,nt the best the best book I have read but the book is good .I like the part when the bus falls in the river and they have to rescew the people out of the water and take care of grandma. this is the part that almost made me saub!!!!!!!!!

Mississippi Wonders
Mississippi Bridge is about Stacy Logan, her brothers and sisters, and Josias Williams. Josias Williams is taking the bus to a new job because a flood coming through the town ruined his last job. In the 1930s black people were not treated equally because of their skin color. But then Stacy Logan, her brothers and sisters, and Josias Williams and Stacey's grandmother get on the bus but something happens and the town has a horrifying nightmare that will change the townspeople's lives forever.
The book takes place in Mississippi in the 1930s during the time of the great depression.
The problem is really about how Jeremy Simms always watches as the weekly bus comes from Jackson and goes through his town. But one day on the way from the stop the bus goes over a bridge and a flash flood sweeps the bus into the rivers. The bus ride becomes more than just a daily routine, it becomes a situation between life and death.
The theme of the story is about four kids always being told you can't try this on unless you are going to buy it because they are black. But one day they get on the bus and their friend Josias and Stacy's grandmother get kicked off the bus and the four kids are left alone. The bus driver doesn't know that a flash flood has occurred. Something happens that changes their lives forever.
The main characters are Josias Williams, Stacy Logan, her brothers and sisters, and Jeremy Simms who is trying to find a job.
The mood of the story is very adventurous and can be at some times mad, scary, and sad at one time.
The grade and age group for this book is for 5th grade and from 11-13 years old students/kids.

By Josh
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Product Description
The history of the Mississippi River Valley is told in text and pictures through the adventures of Minn, a snapping turtle, as she travels downstream. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

Minn of the Mississippi
The book is wonderful for children especially in grade 5.Gives info about our country.

Wonderful book
Absolutely wonderful story and pictures of a turtle's century-long journey down the Mississippi River.It tells all about the great river by following the turtle through harrowing and exciting adventures.I remember reading this book in the second grade, then ordered myself a copy 50 years later!

GREAT kids' story
Holling writes GREAT adventure stories that provoke kids to think of the big picture as well as the details!I love his books, ever since I was little.I bought this book to pass along its wealth and beauty to the next generation in our family.

Staying Power
I read this book when I was a girl in the fifties and was very happy to find it is still around. I am now reading it to my grandchildren. A truly wonderful book that teaches about geography, nature, and life. Like the turtle and the river, "Minn of the Mississippi" has staying power.

Great book for children
The book presented a very interesting and clever way to teach a child history and culture. ... Read more

Product Description
Introduces the geography, history, people, and environmental issues of Mississippi. ... Read more

Product Description
Looks at the Mississippi River, examining its physical aspects, its importance to industry and transport, effects on the environment, historical importance, and its contributions to social and cultural life. Illustrated with 56 transparencies, maps and diagrams a new title in THE WORLD'S RIVERS series. ... Read more

Product Description
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. In Mississippi in 1955, a 16 year-old finds himself at odds with his grandfather over issues surrounding the kidnapping and murder of a 14- year-old African American from Chicago. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (34)

great transaction
The book arrived in perfect condition. It also arrived in a timely fashion and am very pleased with this transaction.

Students Love It!
My students were required to read this novel. They loved it so, that it was hard to get them to put it down. Most of the students read the book in two days! As a culminating activity we viewed the film The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Tilland we conducted a comparison of the two. The students learned so much about this historical moment in history and I plan to make this a required reading next year as well!

1 out of 4 teachers would use this for a classroom
If you are not a teacher, you probably don't want to read this review...

We were introduced to this book through a graduate class and were intrigued with the idea that Chris Crowe's book renewed interest in the life, death and trial of Emmett Till.Our reviews, however, are conflicting.Truth be told, only one out of four of us would use this in our classroom.Our debates range from accurate portayal of historical events to an intriguing narrative intended to stimulate interest.
Exagggerated and invented events are the author's license, but when used to dramatize the already factually horrific events of Emmett's demise, they weaken the impact it had on us and we wonder who was impacted enough to pursue a reopening of the case.
The one teacher who would use this book in her classroom felt like the book represented the historical fiction genre well and would be engaging for middle school students.This is an ideal gateway book to pique curiosity into learning more about Emmett Till and origins of the Civil Rights Movement.

Meghan MC, Chris W., Lori O. and Erinn L.

Mississippi Trial, 1955
At first, Hiram is excited about visiting his favorite grandfather in Greenwood, Mississippi.But before long, Hiram begins to feel that the small town of Greenwood is not the same place where he spent the golden years of his childhood.Then he crosses paths with Emmett Till, a black teenager from Chicago who is also visiting over the summer, and Hiram sees firsthand how local white folk treat blacks who "don't know their place."When Emmett's body is found floating in a river, Hiram is determined to make sure justice is served.But what will it cost him?

Mississippi Trial, 1955 begins during Hiram's childhood with his grandpa in Greenwood, Mississippi.His parents could not raise him at the time because Hiram's dad was in the process of getting a master's degree in English at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).Hiram's heart was broken when he had to move to Tempe, Arizona for his father's job. Flash forward a few years.When Hiram was sixteen, his father reluctantly decided he was old enough to go back to Greenwood for the summer.Hiram arrived there happy, but as time went on, he could not shake the feeling that something was different.Then he met Emmett Till, a nice young black boy from Chicago.Hiram and Emmett see each other a few times at the Tallahatchie River, where Hiram played and shared food with Emmett (it was a little unusual down there for whites to hang out with blacks, but Hiram didn't mind). A few days later, a body of a young black man was found in that same river.Hiram thinks he knows something about the hate crime.A day before, Hiram's racist friend, RC Rydell, said something about planning to murder a black boy.Meanwhile, there is a huge media blow-up throughout the country about this cruel crime, so Hiram tells the country sheriff about what he heard.Hiram was subpoenaed to the impending trial to present his evidence, despite his grandfather's misgivings about it.At the trial, the defendants, Mr. Bryant and Mr. Milam, explained how Emmett had made rude gestures to Mrs. Bryant the day before the homicide, but neither of them had killed Emmett.The plaintiff, Emmett's uncle Mose, said that Emmett had been kidnapped by the two men and driven off, never to be seen again.However, there was another man in the car, a blue Ford pickup truck by the looks of it.Just as he was about to testify about RC, Hiram discovered that RC had not even been in town the night of the murder, so it could not have been him.The all-white jury found Bryant and Milam innocent of all charges, even though they, in fact, did kill the young man.The morning after the trial, a few men came to pick up grandpa's blue Ford pickup after they bought it from him a couple days beforehand.Grandpa claimed the transmission went bad, but Hiram was not so sure.Finally, Ralph Remington, a neighbor who would talk in circles to anyone, told Hiram the real story of what had happened.Grandpa had been the third man in the pickup and had sold the truck to remove the evidence and perhaps, a little of his guilt.Hiram felt sick to his stomach, as if his whole world was crashing down.A couple days later, Hiram went back home to Tempe, where he and his father finally saw eye-to-eye... Dad had been right, the south was not a good place to be.

Mississippi Trial, 1955 is an excellent book to spite the sad reality of events.There is happiness as well to balance it out in this historically accurate story.

There were many examples of sadness in Mississippi Trial.One was when Hiram was a child, his grandma died.Hiram was very much upset, because he had lived with his grandparents for so long.Another example of sadness was when Hiram's new friend, Emmett Till, was found brutally murdered in the Tallahatchie River.The last bit of sadness was when Hiram discovered that his grandfather, whom he had known and trusted all his life, was part of the group who killed Emmett.That was like the final blow - Hiram felt broken after that.

The examples of happiness in Mississippi Trial were sparse, but nonetheless, they were there.One happy moment was when Hiram's father granted him permission to go back to Greenwood, the small town Hiram loved.Another was when he saw Naomi, the girl whom he rather liked, again.Hiram was happy because now he had someone who would criticize him when he talked about everything that was going on.The last example of happiness in the book was when Hiram and his dad made up when he came home - they did not always see eye-to-eye and they always argued.

Mississippi Trial was historically accurate in many ways, although the story about Hiram and his family was all fiction.One historically correct aspect of the book was, of course, the cold-blooded murder of Emmett Till, which aroused the entire nation.Another historically correct part was when Hiram's grandfather explained to Hiram that the Jim Crow Laws were the only thing keeping the southern schools segregated.The last major historically correct element of the story were how the jury was all white men, how the black people had to sit in the back of the courthouse, and how grandpa, a cotton farm owner,said the only reason black people were put on the Earth was so they could work the fields.

Mississippi Trial, 1955 was a very good book - I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good historically correct story, but does not mind a little bit of sadness mixed I as well, although there was happiness to balance things.


-Elizabeth H =]

Mississippi Trial, 1955
Welcome to the Delta. Back in 1955, slavery was still the way of life in Mississippi. No one cared about crimes committed to colored people. When a young colored boy is murdered for whistling at a white woman, no one but a young white boy, Hiram Hillburn, cared. I recommend this book to people who like reading about history.
This book really makes you appreciate the basic rights that we take for granted every day no matter what color or sex you are. Nowadays if you murder someone, you will suffer the consequences. The two men that murdered the colored boy, Emmit Till, got away with the murder with no punishment just because they were white.
Chris Crowe did an extremely good job of writing this book. The way he describes everything puts a descriptive picture in your mind. When a bully named R.C. Rydell was messing with Emmit Till, you can actually picture R.C. shoving fish guts all over Till's face. You can also see the tears dripping down the cheeks of Till's loved ones.
Suspense is a key factor in a book, but this book barely had any suspense. Once you figure out about the trial, you can already assume how the book is going to end by the reaction of the people in the Delta. Nobody cared about the murder, and some were happy about it because "it showed colored people their place".
This was a mediocre book. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't good enough. Sometimes it just got really boring and you get tempted to put the book down and never pick it up again. Like when Hiram was dreaming about Naomi Rydell, R.C.'s sister. I only recommend this book to people who like reading about history.
D. Clayton
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Product Description
This study researched the role of the MississippiFreedom School Movement of the 1960s as a responsestrategy to the Civil Rights Movement inMississippi. Fourteen individuals (5 participantswho were students, 5 teachers, and 4 influentialleaders) involved with the Mississippi FreedomSchools of the 1960s era provided the data for thestudy. Narrative analysis was used to capture thevoices of this sample. They talked candidly aboutthe organization, funding, the role of the churchesand other prominent organizations, and the impactthat the schools of the 60s could have on today'seducation system. The study found the selection ofthe state of Mississippi to implement the FreedomSchools was a deliberate strategy for the CivilRights Movement in Mississippi. The participants ofthe study knew they were involved in somethingimmensely larger than themselves. The comments froma highly respected Civil Rights Movement leader,along with those of a former worker with federalprograms associated with Freedom Summer, also helpedtriangulate the data. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Scholarly Work

The study focuses on the Mississippi Freedom Schools of the 1960s and the struggle for education as a part of the Civil Rights Movement in Mississippi and is an important product to help African American students today understand their own history, particularly the recent history that opened the doors for education that is equitable. It is also a helpful resource for those creating charter schools and other innovative settings that foster real student development.

Major Findings of the Study:
* Support from multiple stakeholders who believed in the core vision of the Freedom Schools; i.e., teachers, students, families, churches, national organizations,influential leaders, etc.
* The core vision never changed and everything revolved around it. The lack of money and other resources did not interfere with the vision;
* Tests and outcomes were crafted with the vision in mind;
* Students, teachers, and influential leaders believed that they were involved with something bigger than themselves;
* The Freedom Schools were a simple human endeavor in which teachers and students displayed acts of courage and stood up for their beliefs;
* High performance expectations were set for faculty and students;
* Ethics of care permeated the school - Child-centered curriculum;
* Students and teachers were accepted where they were;
* Camaraderie and collaboration among students and teachers was a norm;
* Common training for all teachers was held at Western College for Women located in Oxford, Ohio.
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