Picture Book: Sit-In: How
Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down
Author: Andrea Davis Pinkney
Illustrator: Brian Pinkney
Summary: This historic story is beautifully rendered in
verse. Civil rights issues are cleverly explored metaphorically through lunch
counter items (a doughnut, coffee, & cream).
On February
1, 1960, four college students sat down at a lunch counter in Greensboro, NC. When
they were ignored, they politely refused to leave and stayed until Woolworth’s
closed.
News spread and more students joined them the next day. Still
ignored, they did homework.
Lunch counter protests began in several southern
towns.
Angry white people poured drinks down their backs and flung food in their
faces, but they didn’t respond.
“Practicing peace while others show hatred was
tougher than any school test.” The Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
(SNCC) was formed; their slogan became, “We are all leaders.”
Other groups began to oppose segregated libraries, buses, parks, and pools. Some were arrested, but they didn’t resist, instead some sang.
Eventually
many businesses integrated just to stay open. In 1964, The Civil Rights Act banned segregation in public places.
Hanna’s Comments: This book has a treasure trove of supplemental material at
the end. There’s a timeline, a photo of the original 4 students, and more info.
and references. My favorite is the “right recipe” for integration, 10 pieces of
practical advice that could benefit us all.
As Black
History Month ends here in the States, I wanted to highlight this important book to help you delve into faith-based
resistance in your congregations. I also wanted to give you a link to a
disturbing report that I heard from NPR this week about the low percentage of
children’s books that feature characters of color. Check it out [here]. This
data is troubling, but you’ll find a much higher percentage on this website. At
PBT, I make a point of featuring picture books that highlight non-white
characters, diversity, and 1960s civil rights history since I worship mere
blocks from where some of the most vivid atrocities occurred.
Original Publisher & Date: Little, Brown, & Co.,
2010
Age & Grade Appropriateness: 7 and
up, 2nd and up
Formats other than Book: None at present
Scripture Connections: Like a polluted fountain
is a righteous person who gives way before the wicked (Proverbs 25:26); What
does the Lord require of you but to do justice (Micah 6:8); Jesus said to a
disciple, “Put your sword back into place.” (Matthew 26:52); Don’t be conformed
to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing
you may discern what is the will of God (Romans 12:2)
Idea(s) for Application: Read this book in a lesson
for children, youth, or adults on Jesus’ nonviolence and/or the Christian
church’s modern methods for doing justice and resisting injustice.
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