Author Description

Walking For Freedom is an illustrated novel that recounts how the Montgomery, Alabama black community organized and participated in the 1955 bus boycott which ended segregation on public buses. On December 1, 1955, when a tired Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white man on a city bus in Montgomery, Alabama, the police were called and she was arrested. In a show of unity and support for Mrs. Parks, the African American community of Montgomery launched a boycott of city buses. Together they organized a peaceful protest to challenge the unfair segregation laws in America. After 381 days of taking taxis, carpooling, and walking the hostile streets of Montgomery, African Americans eventually won their fight to desegregate seating on public buses, not only in Montgomery, but throughout the United States. Richard Kelso is a published author and an editor of several children’s books. Some of his published credits include: Walking for Freedom: The Montgomery Bus Boycott (Stories of America), Building a Dream: Mary Bethune’s School (Stories of America) and Days of Courage: The Little Rock Story (Stories of America). Michael Newton is a published author and an illustrator of young adult and children’s books. Some of his published credits include: Walking for Freedom: The Montgomery Bus Boycott (Stories of America), Savage Girls and Wild Boys: A History of Feral Children, and Gangs and Gang Crimes (Criminal Investigations). Alex Haley, as General Editor, wrote the introduction.