Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice

Intro

Wow! After closing the back cover of this book, I had this incredible, unfamiliar feeling of inspiration mixed with heartbreak. The triumph of African-Americans in Montgomery, Alabama in the 1950s-60s is an example of the power of the human spirit, determination, and - thank God - proof that our Judicial System examines the Constitution objectively. Well...they learned to, at least.

But honestly, I didn't know too much about Claudette Colvin before I delved into this book. Really, what I knew of Colvin was that she was the Beta Max to the Rosa Parks VHS. Honestly, to me, she was just another Civil Rights Activist that I had heard of in passing. I also knew that Rosa Parks actions were calculated. What I didn't know is that it show more started with a teenage girl with a "problem with authority."

I also feel for her now. It must really suck to be a martyr without at least getting the status. But, ya know...it's not like she was a major contributor in fundamentally changing the way one of the most influential countries in the world operates. Colvin is totally not a hero that deserves to be in textbooks. Totally.

The Narrative

The best word that I can use to describe Hoose's narrative style is "a little janky." The story cuts between what one would expect from a historical narrative/biography to a first person account of the situation, told by Claudette Colvin herself. Initially, this pushed me away from the text, as I prefer my histories to be free from objectivity. But that changed after reading a few chapters.

But Colvin's interviews do not serve as a story all their own. If combined, they would make little sense as a text. No, instead her own words serve two different purposes (for me). First, her own personal account bolsters the facts Hoose puts forward. This is great for a nonfiction text, when concerning the text itself. But the words of Colvin, words that came straight from the mouth of the "usurper" allowed for a much deeper emotional connection to the events depicted.

And this is really important to consider. In most circumstances, the reader would connect with Colvin as a victim. I mean who wouldn't? She was segregated, ejected from a public utility for defending her rights, and shunned by the very few people that could protect her. It's a terrible situation that oozes possible sympathy.

But Hoose didn't take that route, entirely. While the story we read was heartbreaking, ending in predictable triumph, Hoose attempts (successfully in my case) for his readers to connect with Claudette Colvin the person, not the character. This thought hearkened me to an old biography of Jackie Robinson that I read in 7th grade. Jackie is a (deserved) folk hero in America. This biography told his story as such. But Hoose does not go that route - entirely, which can be the case with Jackie. He could have easily painted Claudette Colvin as some larger than life figure that deserves our reverence. But he didn't. He told the real story of a teenage girl that had enough.

The Impact

One of my favorite things about history lends itself to some awful feelings. You really can't know everything that happened during a certain time frame. I consider myself decently versed in the American Civil Rights Movement, but I cannot deny that I sometimes endure some gut shots. This was one of those times.

First off, Jeremiah Reeves was a stranger to me. To know the horrors of his case, not to mention the verdict's importance in the bus boycott, both surprised and horrified. This book cuts deep, and on purpose. While the Civil Rights Movement may have happened over 50 years ago, progress still needs to made.

Hoose pulls no punches. I cannot say that his research is 100% on point, as I have not investigated his sources myself, but it certainly seems as though his ducks are in a row and Colvin's interviews tend to bolster many of his ascertains.

In this case, the credibility only made me feel the pain of the characters even more. Mostly in the form of a pregnant Claudette being shunned from the NAACP from not being a presentable face. I definitely understand the move - there was much more on the line than one person's ego - but c'mon! How was a young pregnant girl not the perfect proponent for strife?! I guess that was just the 50s.

Summation

Absolutely a 5/5. This book is a great read, and provides for little known (to me) insights into the Montgomery Civil Rights Movement. It takes a certain sort of author to make a nonfiction book combine both tension and depression into an entertaining narrative. Hoose accomplishes this masterfully. show less

Phillip Hoose's Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice is a comprehensive and impressive inquiry into a largely unknown teenage civil rights activist. The novel can be used in both language arts and social studies classrooms and is certain to become a favorite among students. Colvin is a truly accessible heroine of the Jim Crow south: she stood up for what she believed in when others wouldn't, but is also far from perfect.

Structurally, the novel is arranged into two parts, with each part covering two very separate heroic acts of Colvin in her early life: first, her refusal to surrender her seat to a white woman on a Montgomery bus; second, her role as the star witness is the federal case surrounding the Montgomery bus laws, Browder v. show more Gayle. There are a total of ten numbered chapters, perhaps representing a liberation of the number ten from its detested association with the Jim Crow laws. Throughout the chapters are vitally important photographs and newspaper clippings depicting the life of Colvin and the setting of the civil rights movement within Jim Crow Alabama. Also interspersed are key events, people, and details associated with the civil rights movement and the Montgomery bus boycott. The photos, newspaper clippings, and background information really help place the reader in the era.

Supplementing the traditional omnipotent narration is Colvin's own commentary and view of the events, taken directly from interviews Hoose conducted with Colvin. The personal narration coming from Colvin truly made it feel like the book was co-written by Colvin herself. In fact, in the author's notes in the back, Hoose describes how, even before publishing, he read the book to Colvin, who made corrections and changes even down to connotative details. Hoose supplemented Colvin's accounts with other primary sources still around, such as interviews with Fred Gray, Colvin's lawyer and the prosecuting attorney in Browder v. Gayle. Indeed, the accuracy of this book is hard to deny, and the awards it earned certainly seem warranted.

To me, Hoose's biggest important accomplishment was the dignified manner he covered Colvin's teenage pregnancy out of wedlock. Indeed, this seems to be the reason Colvin is not better known, was not the face of the bus boycott, and virtually disappeared into obscurity. There is no doubt in my mind that civil rights leaders were, to some degree, ashamed of Colvin's pregnancy and turned their back on her, but it is also clear from the story that this was necessary, not malicious, and accepted as the right move by Colvin. The novel also does not vilify Colvin for getting pregnant. Instead Colvin and Hoose, while purposely not going into great detail about the ordeal, remind people that young girls were not educated about sex. Indeed, Hoose's handling of this aspect of the narrative not only provides necessary information about the Montgomery civil rights movement, but it also provides compelling insight as to why Colvin was almost all but forgotten about.

This story has truly educated me fully in the events surrounding the Montgomery bus boycott, and also given me important insight into an unsung hero of the civil rights movement. Perhaps more importantly, it has caused me to ask lots of questions. Was the NAACP going to use Colvin to represent their cause before finding out she was pregnant? Did this revelation of her pregnancy to the public, which the novel points out happens just before Rosa Park's protest, actually spur Parks, who was a close associate of Colvin, to become the face of this movement? Did the NAACP have a hand at convincing Parks, an otherwise quiet woman, to protest on a bus to become the face of the movement after Colvin had let them down, a fact which the NAACP would have to hide since they didn't want it to seem like the leaders were inciting the people to revolt against the bus companies? Or did Parks, knowing that Colvin couldn't represent their movement anymore, take matters into her own hands when learning about her friend Colvin? Like any good novel, this novel gives great information, which only leads to more questions. This novel deserves all the praise it has already received, and more, and has proved to be an exciting, informative, and interesting read. show less

This was a really great book, though it was somewhat strangely organized. My own classes in high school never even mentioned Claudette Colvin. The civil rights era is generally covered in some detail in middle and high schools, but the focus tends to be on Dr. King and Rosa Parks more than anyone or anything else. This account of the Montgomery bus boycott felt different, and more personal than any I have ever read before. Furthermore, hearing about the struggles and trials of the girl who was arguably the catalyst for the bus boycott would likely engage many high school students more effectively than some more "objectively" situated narratives. This book will be added to my collection.
Learning the history and some details of the show more community interactions surrounding the twenty one months of the boycott was enlightening, and it brought up a whole slew of questions and thoughts on the intricacies of the ever evolving social climate of the United States. For example, the way that Claudette Colvin was treated in the wake of her court appearance by virtue of the fact that she was an unwed mother with a light skinned baby could an excellent segue into discussions of gender and racial intersectionality and the ways that various factors play into our relationship with the hierarchical power structures upon which oppression is built.
I did take some issue with the organization of the book. Yes, the chronological flow was good, and I appreciated the inclusion of segments from interviews with Ms. Colvin, but the picture and sidebars were somewhat disorganized and inconsistently useful. Furthermore, the sudden, jarring inclusion of and all-black page stating "PART TWO" is completely unnecessary and strange - to say the least. Right before part two is the transition into part two which is simply a logical continuation in the flow of the book. It would have felt like an out of place mile marker sign at the center of a trail if it weren't for the fact that it appears so near to the end of the book anyway. Why did the author suddenly need a break between two chapters which happen in logical continuity with one another and the rest of the book? I will admit that this one bit of strangeness probably bothered me more than it should, and that, on the whole, the book is of such good quality that I would still highly recommend it to anyone curious about this chapter in the civil rights movement. show less

“Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Freedom” is the historical account of a brave African-American teenager who refused to give up her seat to a white woman on a segregated bus. The act helped lay the groundwork for the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and later, aided in bringing an end to public transportation segregation in Montgomery, Alabama. Like most people, prior to opening this book I was certain that Rosa Parks was originally responsible for this act of defiance. “Twice Toward Freedom” brings to light a fascinating, and lesser-known story and delves into the history and politics that surrounded Claudette Colvin’s heroic action and the role it played in the movement that followed.

As I’ve experience with a few other books I’ve show more read this semester, I found myself hardly able to comprehend some of the details I was reading. Not for lack of accuracy, by any means, but more just a feeling of incredulousness about human capacity for hate. This was fueled further by the fact that the voice of the story was that of a fifteen-year-old. When the book describes the deaths of Jeremiah Reeves and Emmett Till, one can hardly image how a young girl of the same age might have responded. I was equally appalled by many of the book’s other accounts: Claudette’s mom needing to trace the bottoms of her feet in order to get the right shoe size, her father needing to stay up all night with a shotgun in fear of the KKK, the all-white juries, etc.

Once Rosa Parks entered into the picture, the book took another fascinating turn. I had no idea how seemingly premeditated her actions were (although, brave, nonetheless). The whole notion of the NAACP potentially restaging Claudette’s act with the “right” person gave me mixed feelings, especially when, as Claudette describes, she was shunned by those initially set out to help her. I suppose there was justice in the end when Claudette served as a witness in Browder v. Gayle trial and helped deliver the final blow to the segregated bus system; however, I sensed a bit of frustration in Claudette’s tone overall.

As far as accuracy is concerned, the book is stellar. The main body of the text is filled with primary source photos, supporting documents and a well-researched narrative. I also appreciated that the book provided balance by clarifying that the oppressive opinions of Montgomery were not held by all white residents. The back of the book provides a wealth information about the genesis of the book as well as the process in which it was written. Here we learn that the author conducted over fourteen hours of interviews with Claudette herself (which was used as the basis for the “Claudette” section), and also conducted four direct interviews with her attorney Fred Gray. Additionally, the back of the book features an extended Q&A section with Claudette, a selected bibliography (which includes multiple primary sources), an expansive section citing all quotations, a photo credit source listing, and a thorough index. The author, Phillip Hoose, has won many distinguished awards and also written other books within the genre of historical nonfiction.

In looking at style, the language of the book is both partisan and precise. The content is carefully organized and highly readable -- even for a younger audience. The descriptions of the events are both vivid and passionate, and while I could sense Claudette’s frustration and desperation throughout the biography, I did not feel that emotional nature of her “voice” was a distraction from the facts.

Initially, while reading the “Claudette” parts I was confused about the author’s usage of first person narrative, since I did not see her listed as an author, but the “Notes” section offers clarification by stating that her account was derived from the interviews. The author also clearly identifies in the “Notes” section any point where he added elaborations based on personal research (i.e.: details of the neighborhood or the courthouse he visited).

Finally, the book was well-organized and easy to follow. It flowed chronologically, and supplemental features were scattered throughout to provide additional historical context. The sections in the back were clearly labeled and easy to navigate, and narrative itself evolved logically and wrapped up neatly, leaving most of my questions answered or redirected to the additional sections. show less

Reading Phillip Hoose's, Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice had a redemptive quality to it, and the thing being redeemed wasn't Claudette herself or even the rights of African Americans (though to be sure this was an important thread in the narrative). The thing being redeemed was Claudette's story itself, her well-deserved place in the Civil Rights movement. Hoose went to great lengths to embed Claudette's actions in in history such a way that their import was obvious to readers. Every line seems penned with the intent to rightly situate a young Claudette within the milieu of her times, to show how she was both a product of and a changer of those times, to right what I think Hoose and Claudette view as an epic oversight of her show more bravery (twice).

Even the title, Twice Toward Justice, seems linked to Hoose's cause. I can't help but wonder if Hoose's choice is a bit double entendric. With boldness and clarity of purpose, Claudette Colvin twice fought back against the regime that threatened her very existence; yet twice her bravery was seemingly overlooked. Hoose wanted to remind us all of Claudette's unflinching stands, and in doing so, he brought justice to Claudette. Hence the redemption.
How did Hoose accomplish his mission? How did he frame Claudette's story so that it had the gravitas, that resounding "thud" that would make reader's stop and say, "This woman made history! Why haven't I ever heard of her before?" Beyond a very apt title, he did this by simply telling her story, many times in her own words.
Claudette's story is told in a way that I term "documentary" style. I can easily picture viewing this book as a film, the camera zooming back and forth between the big, "This is life according to Jim Crow" and Claudette's, "Here's how it was for me" moments. A narrator (who would be the perfect cast for this? Morgan Freeman?) could take on the third person portions of the book, and Claudette herself could speak the first person parts, sometimes with pictures from the text scrolling across the screen, sometimes with the lens capturing Claudette's steady gaze. I would watch this film in a heartbeat. But, since that film doesn't exist except for in my brain, I think that Hoose gave us the next best thing: He used third person to contextualize Claudette's actions and first person to bring those reflections into sharp focus. (I guess I can content myself with inserting Morgan Freeman's voice and saying "roll tape" in my head).
Every chapter included this toggling back and forth between perspectives, and the reader is clued into a "scene change" by textual markers. Bolded typeface, ellipses and all caps let us know when we are hearing the narrator and when we are encountering Claudette in her own words.

I love Hoose's approach. If the whole narrative had been in either first or third person, I think it's possible that Claudette's words would have become watered down. As it stands, the organization caused me to sit up and take notice whenever Claudette herself was clearly speaking. Passages like this, "Claudette was still furious about Jeremiah Reeve's plight, when, on the first day of her sophomore year, she met someone who gave her the confidence to transform her anger into action" proved a satisfying lead in into their subsequent first person sections like this: "Miss Geraldine Nesbitt dressed sharp – more like a saleslady than a schoolteacher. She was slender and petite..." What an effective use of alternating point of view on Hoose's part. And while all aspects of the book, encylopedic-like entries clarifying what Jim-Crow is, served to anchor this text in the reality, this simple toggling between perspectives (with clear textual delineations between the two) employed in every chapter is, in my view, the most powerful organizational tool that Hoose used to redeem Claudette's lost place in history. The writer in me labels this the "zoom in/zoom out" approach and thinks "Oooh, I wanna try that!" show less

Claudette Colvin is a moving, personal look at the Montgomery bus boycott, and the momentum one young woman gave to the movement. The author understands the importance of letting his source speak for herself. Her reflections illustrate her passion for justice and help us connect with the movement. The photographs and historical context are enriched by our emotional investment in Colvin's experiences and vice versa. With regards to the text's organization, form follows function. It is narrative and, since it is linear, it is also chronological.

I was particularly impressed by how the text doesn't shy away from complexity. I was worried it would shy away from Colvin's pregnancy and how it affected her standing within the movement. The show more text, and Colvin, respects Rosa Parks and her legacy; however, the decision to choose Rosa Parks as the bus boycott's galvanizing figure because of Colvin's "emotional" or "feisty" nature, her dark skin, and working class family shows the classism and colorism Colvin and her family confronted. Hoose does not underestimate his young readers. show less

Before Rosa Parks, there was Claudette Colvin who refused to give up her seat on the bus for a white woman. This is a readable and compelling account of how one teenager, frustrated with the adults around her putting up with Jim Crow ways, finally rebelled against the system. Unfortunately, she wasn't the desired "face" for the movement because of her background. An adult Claudette recalls her experiences and emotions through interviews with the author. Descriptions of the detailed organization of the boycott, leadership behind-the-scenes and the Browder vs Gayle trial clearly show young readers what a pivotal moment the bus boycott was in civil rights history, and that, yes, young people CAN make a difference.