Cradle of Freedom

This post is one in a series of reviews commemorating Black History Month

Cradle of Freedom: Alabama and the Movement That Changed America, by Frye Gaillard (2004)

Longtime author and journalist Gaillard has written a thorough account of the Civil Rights movement as it happened in the state of Alabama. From the Montgomery bus boycott to Bloody Sunday in Selma, some of the most pivotal events of the time took place in the heart of Dixie.

What sets this book apart from others is stories of lesser known figures of the time. Reverend Fred Shuttlesworth, for example, gets more coverage here than in most books on the movement. The Birmingham leader is one of many who was fighting the fight long before more famous folks like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. came to town, bringing the glare of the spotlight with him.

We also read of the accomplishments of Sam and Amelia Boynton, a husband and wife team, who began fighting for the right of themselves and other blacks in their county to vote starting as early as the 1930s. Amelia would later stand as one of the "courageous eight," a group who defied a court order forbidding civil rights activities, to invite Dr. King to come to Selma.

The tension between local leaders and the better known national leaders figures large in this volume, but Gaillard is fair to all parties involved. While King's presence in a city brought national exposure, he was regarded by many to be too cautious, too willing to negotiate with white political leaders and business interests. Younger blacks, in particular, were ready for things to change more quickly than did some of the national leadership.

The book also tells the story of dozens of foot soldiers in the movement, like Viola Liuzzo, a white mother of five from Detroit who was slain by Klansmen while ferrying freedom marchers outside of Selma. We also read of black laborer J. D. Cammeron, and of the indignities he suffers as he is involved in scuffles with police in Gadsden.

While many books have been written about seminal events in the movement, this volume's appeal comes from the many personal stories it tells. This is a tale about real people, everyday men and women who, through individual acts of bravery become an army that finds collective gains. Nearly any reader interested in the Civil Rights Era will find something of value in this well-written offering.

Originally reviewed 12/17/2004