My kids have begged me to ride this carousel, and I had no idea it had such an interesting history in the fight against segregation.

This book is about the desegregation of an amusement park and the people that led the cause. The book is narrated by the parents of Sharon Langley(the author), telling her about the famous ride she took on the carousel after the park had desegregated. This is a wonderfully illustrated and written book on a lesser known moment in civil rights history. Appropriate for early elementary. ( )

2.5 ( )

In the summer of 1963, non-violent protests were held at the Gywnn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore, Maryland to condemn the park’s segregation policy. On August 28, 1963, the park was desegregated and eleven-month-old Sharon Langley was the first African American child to ride the park’s merry-go-around.
Read the recently published picture book and middle grade book on this topic, then learn more by watching the documentary:
A RIDE TO REMEMBER: A CIVIL RIGHTS STORY by Sharon Langley and Amy Nathan tells the story of the Gywnn Oak Amusement Park protests and young Sharon Langley’s experience riding the merry-go-round. This beautifully illustrated picture book concludes with historical information and a timeline.
Amy Nathan also wrote the middle and high school nonfiction text ROUND AND ROUND TOGETHER: TAKING A MERRY-GO-ROUND INTO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT.
ALL THE KING’S HORSES: THE STORY OF GWYNN OAK AMUSEMENT PARK is a video documentary chronicling the efforts to desegregate the park. Told through eyewitness accounts and personal narrative, the video presents all sides of the issue.
ALL THE KING’S HORSES https://youtu.be/IPRMQH9PxFQ
ARC courtesy of Abrams Books for All Readers. ( )

It's difficult for me to know that in my young years, blacks were treated terribly. Not only were there segregated bathrooms, water fountains, and schools, but children were forbidden to enjoy rides at parks. The sixties were a time of unrest, and a time of facing the fact that all these things denied to people of color were incredibly unfair.

This book is based on a true story. The Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Baltimore, Md, denied access to the carousel, and any of the rides in the park. Written by Sharon Langley, the first black child who rode the horse on this particular carousel, the book tells the importance of rebellion and the sheer stupidity and racism that many, not all, whites held against those of color.

Children who were raised to learn the golden rule of doing unto others what you would want to be treated, asked parents why whites did not adhere to this basic biblical tenant.

In 1963, people peacefully went to Gwynn Oak Amusement Park and protested peacefully. Singing songs of "We Shall Overcome," and carrying signs that demanded equal treatment, people were taken by bus to jail.

On August 28th, 1963, Sharon's mother and father entered the park. It was open to all. Marching to an ornately decorated horse, Sharon's father placed her on the carousel. Reporters and photographers were there to witness this story.

Today, on the Mall in Washington, DC, the carousel stands as a testimony to a time when people made a difference. This famous carousel ride represented the fact that the horses on the carousel all went around at the same time. No one was before, and no one was after! ( )