Book description
The inspiring story of four-year-old Sarah Roberts, the first African American girl to try to integrate a white school, and how her experience in 1847 set greater change in motion. Junior Library Guild Selection 2017 Orbis Pictus Honor Book Chicago Public LibraryKids Best of the Best Book 2016 A Nerdy…
Why read it?
2 authors picked The First Step as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
The First Step tells an important and lesser-known story about Sarah Roberts, a schoolgirl who was not allowed to attend school in Boston in 1847 because of her skin color. Sarah and her family persisted by fighting this injustice; they took the City of Boston to court! Roberts v. City of Boston was the first case to challenge the United States’ legal system to outlaw segregation in schools. The Roberts family lost the battle, but their case was the first step toward desegregating schools. It’s important for children to learn that even if you don’t win, it’s vital to speak…
From Lisa's list on biographies about perseverance.
In 1847, a police officer entered an elementary school classroom in Boston and threw Sarah Roberts out. Because she was an African American student in a school filled with white students. This book tells the story of the lawsuit that bears her name, Roberts v. City of Boston, which was the opening salvo in the fight for school integration. Spoiler alert: Sarah lost her lawsuit. As the book says, “The march toward justice is a long, twisting journey. Three steps forward, one step back.” A book that reminds us that losing a battle isn’t the same as losing the war.
From Annette's list on children’s books for young activists.
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