Responses by Cynthia
Levinson
Jan. 29, 2012
We’ve Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children’s March
What made you decide to write about the 1963 Birmingham Children's March?
Mortification. That and
ignorance. Or, actually, mortification about my ignorance. As a high school
senior in 1963, I knew that powerful water hoses and dogs were used against
civil rights demonstrators. But, I didn't know until I wrote an article for
Cobblestone Magazine, about five years ago about music during that period, that
the demonstrators were all children. As a former American History teacher, I
was embarrassed that I hadn't known, let alone taught, essential information.
When I discovered, by asking around, that many other people were unaware of
children's critical role in desegregating Birmingham, I knew I had to write
about it.
How long did this project take and how much of that was spent researching as opposed to how much of it was spent writing?
I worked on this project, on
and off, over about four years. There was a period of about 18 months where it
sat on a shelf while publishers turned it down. There is no way to discern
research from writing. The research informed the writing--the structure, the
voice, the content--at every step and continued to do so during revisions, copy
edits, design, and photo-finding. They are entirely integral to each other.
Where do you begin your research for a project like this and where to you find all of the background information?
I began my research
prosaically, by reading. I read about the civil rights movement, in general,
and about Birmingham, in particular, for three months before visiting there to
do on-site and interview and other primary research. Eventually, the
information came from books, newspapers, magazines, personal interviews, music,
sermons, photos, television programs, radio shows, movies, documentaries, the
web, government sources, statistical reports, research conducted by non-profit
organizations, doctoral dissertations...
While you're doing the research, you have no way of knowing
what's "background" information and what's foreground. The telling of
the story determines that. As for "all" of the information--despite
all of the research I did, there is no way to find all of it.
How did you find out about Audrey, Wash, James and Arnetta's involvement in this historic event?
I learned about Audrey, Wash,
James, and Arnetta through the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, which has an
excellent collection of interviews with activists.
What was it like getting to meet the four heroes in your book? Tell us a little about your experience with them.
I felt awed and honored to
meet them. Audrey invited me to her home. When she told me that Dr. King had
often met there to plan strategy with her parents and other activists, I
practically felt that I was walking on holy ground. Wash took me out for
pancakes the first time we met and told me so many stories about his childhood,
I knew I had found the "bad boy" for the book. I didn't meet James or
Arnetta until the research and writing were well under way, and we had spent
many hours together on the phone. It was thrilling to shake their hands.
Did you travel to Birmingham and retrace the events you wrote about?
I went to Birmingham three
times. On my second visit, I literally re-traced the children's march. A woman
who had marched as a teen--and who became Birmingham's second black
policewoman--led a group of teenagers in 2008, to commemorate the 45th
anniversary. We got farther, both on the ground and symbolically, than any of
the marchers had in 1963.
What was your favorite part about writing WE'VE GOT A JOB?
I loved the research, the
people I got to talk to, the intensity, working with my editor. Maybe my
favorite part was listening to recordings of mass meetings, sermons, and civil
rights songs but it's hard to pick one favorite aspect.
Tell us why you think it's important for children today to read about events of the past?
There are too many past events
to answer this question generically. It's important for children to read about
these particular events because they can see that not only is change for the
better possible, but also that they, as young people, can help bring it about.
What advice would you give to the child who hates to read?
Ask someone who does like to read, to read to
you--especially We've Got a Job!
Thank
you for your time. It has been a pleasure working with you. I
appreciate the poignant story and hope my readers will take the time to
read more about the 1963 Birmingham
Children's March.
To find out more about author, Cynthia Levinson, visit her website HERE.
Be sure to check out We've Got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March. It's a moving non-fiction story. Read my review below this post.
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