We Are Your Children Too, P. OConnell Pearson
We Are Your Children Too, P. OConnell Pearson
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We Are Your Children Too
Black Students, White Supremacists, and the Battle for America's Schools in Prince Edward County, Virginia

Author: P. O’Connell Pearson

Narrator: Kevin R. Free

Unabridged: 5 hr 15 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 01/10/2023

Synopsis

This “detailed, fascinating” (Booklist, starred review) nonfiction middle grade book explores a deeply troubling chapter in American history that is still playing out today: the strange case of Prince Edward County, Virginia, the only place in the United States to ever formally deny its citizens a public education, and the students who pushed back.

In 1954, after the passing of Brown v. the Board of Education, the all-White school board of one county in south central Virginia made the decision to close its public schools rather than integrate. Those schools stayed closed for five years.

While the affluent White population of Prince Edward County built a private school—for White children only—Black children and their families had to find other ways to learn. Some Black children were home schooled by unemployed Black teachers. Some traveled thousands of miles away to live with relatives, friends, or even strangers. Some didn’t go to school at all.

But many stood up and became young activists, fighting for one of the rights America claims belongs to all: the right to learn.

About P. O’Connell Pearson

P. O’Connell Pearson has always taught history—first in the high school classroom and then as a curriculum writer and editor across grade levels. Ready to share her enthusiasm for stories of the past in a new way, she earned an MFA in writing for young people from Lesley University and now writes narrative nonfiction for ages ten and up. Her books have received recognition from Bank Street, NCSS, the New-York Historical Society, Arizona Library Association, and more. When Pearson is not writing about history, she can often be found talking about history as a volunteer with the National Park Service in Washington, DC.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Lydia on July 26, 2022

This revelatory and gripping nonfiction middle grade book explores a deeply troubling chapter in American history that is still playing out today: the strange case of Prince Edward County, Virginia, the only place in the United States to ever formally deny its citizens a public education, and the st......more

Goodreads review by Rowen on March 12, 2023

Really solid book aimed at younger readers about an unfairly obscure chapter of history. It's engaging and explains things well. Couldn't quite manage to give it five stars - while it does a great job of not shying away from the harsh realities of white supremacist ideology in America, it also plays......more

Goodreads review by Erin on March 25, 2024

A powerful and resonant book about the necessity of accessible public education. This hits very hard as I read this almost four years to the day after Covid shut our public schools down. But my kids weren’t prevented from education by selfish, racist, narrow-minded bigots. And my kids had online pla......more

Goodreads review by Esther on April 11, 2023

A good summary of the events from the 1950's and 1960's that took place in Prince Edward County for teens. I didn't necessarily agree with all of her comments about present day events. It was interesting to read about this author's perspective though.......more

Goodreads review by Richie on July 25, 2023

Richie’s Picks: WE ARE YOUR CHILDREN TOO: BLACK STUDENTS, WHITE SUPREMACISTS, AND THE BATTLE FOR AMERICA’S SCHOOLS IN PRINCE EDWARD COUNTY, VIRGINIA by P. O’Connell Pearson, Simon and Schuster, January 2023, 288p., ISBN: 978-1-6659-0139-0 “In the decision, issued on May 17, 1954, [US Supreme Court Ch......more

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