Told through unforgettable first-person accounts, photographs, and other primary sources, this book is an overview of racial segregation and early civil rights efforts in the United States from the 1890s to 1954, a period known as the Jim Crow years. Multiple perspectives are examined as the book looks at the impact of legal segregation and discrimination on the day-to-day life of black and white Americans across the country. Complete with a bibliography and an index, it is both an engrossing read and an important addition to black history books for young people. “A valuable and comprehensive perspective on American race relations.” — (starred review) “Readers will come away moved, saddened, troubled by this stain on their country’s past and filled with abiding respect for those who fought and overcame. Osborne expertly guides readers through this painful, turbulent time of segregation, enabling them to understand fully the victims’ struggles and triumphs as they worked courageously to set things right.” — “The text is elegant and understated. Drawing on personal interviews, the author provides incidents of everyday racism that young people will be able to grasp and relate to immediately.” — “Tight, consistent focus, pristine organization, and eminently browsable illustrations make this middle-school offering a strong recommendation.” — “A well-written chronicle of the African-American struggle for equal rights in the United States. The reader will be quickly engaged.” —