With the continued fight for civil rights still very much alive, the importance of listening to activists’ voices and learning from their experiences is more important than ever. Outside of their work for civil rights, one of the best things activists can do is share their stories. Through their memoirs and autobiographies, activists can share their message for change alongside details of their past efforts. These recorded moments in history add clarity to the movement as well as add truth to a message that could have been manipulated across time.
Hearing these voices and holding value in their words allows for education and deeper understanding; it is essential to comprehend the differing lifestyles and livelihoods of these individuals. Oftentimes these men and women placed their lives on the line for the sake of justice, equality, and civil rights. These activists have taken the time to detail their approach to equality in their writings and we, as readers and members of society, need to acknowledge the work they put forward in hopes for a better tomorrow.
Buses Are A Comin’ by Charles Person
Charles Person’s memoir, Buses Are A Comin’, delves into the violence of segregation as the youngest Freedom Fighter. At just 18 years old, Person boarded one of two buses that moved through the southern states to investigate, confront, and demand change. Person details the racism he faced, the danger he put himself in, and even the time he met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.!
I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
The tragic event that nearly ended young Malala’s life sent shockwaves around the world. I Am Malala captures this moment and the passion that led to it. Yousafzai reveals details about her life and community prior to being violently attacked over her want for education. She brings truth, light, and hope to the event that changed her life in this memoir.
Angela Davis: An Autobiography by Angela Y. Davis
As the title suggests, Angela Davis: An Autobiography is the self-written memoir of Angela Davis. Davis brings readers through an all-encompassing look at her life. Though known for her great activism, Davis begins her memoir with the start of her life in Alabama before detailing her work with the Black Panther Party. Like her other works, this memoir demands for equality with incredibly powerful writing.
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Lawyer Bryan Stevenson is the voice behind this inspiring memoir. As a young lawyer, Stevenson set out to fight for the right of equality. The memoir is told through Stevenson’s own experiences as well as the lives and cases of his clients. Stevenson works through the history of injustice in the court/prison system, while bringing humanity to the individuals that are often forgotten behind bars.
Angel of Death Row by Andrea D. Lyon
Andrea D. Lyon is a death row lawyer. In her memoir, she brings the reader through her education, passion for social justice, and determined nature. After becoming a lawyer, Lyon takes on cases of individuals sentenced to the death penalty. Alongside the story of her own life, Lyon presents 19 cases of people sentenced to death and her fight to save their life.
Year of the Tiger by Alice Wong
Year of the Tiger takes a whole new approach to the memoir. Alice Wong uses her multi-medium talents to create a scrapbook-like collection of essays on her life. Discussing her Asian culture as well as her role as an activist within her community, Wong develops a truly unique telling of her life story and the importance of acceptance.
Gathering Blossoms Under Fire by Alice Walker
Author of The Color Purple, Alice Walker’s autobiography details the life of the writer and activist through journal entries. Walker covers topics of womanhood, intersectionality, racism, and interracial marriages. Her journal entries bring the reader to a personal level with her as she beautifully pens the reality of her life and the want for a better world.
We must remember that the fight for civil rights is still ongoing. Reading the stories of those who fight for these rights continues an education that is largely left out of our classrooms and quick to leave our minds. Keep these voices close, keep their messages closer, and, as always, continue to fight for what is right.
To learn more about the present state of injustices, read Bookstr’s Emancipation: Injustices That Caused Black Literacy Rates to Soar.
If you’re looking for more representation in your reading, select a book from our Bookshop collection Hooray for Representation – LGBTQ Voices.
