Children’s Book Review The Life Stories of Two Determined Women Championing for Justice

How does one challenge patterns of exclusion, rejection, privilege, and discrimination? Frederick Douglas (Douglass & American Abolition Society,1857) claims, “Power concedes nothing without a demand ” (p. 22). Therefore, when injustices are present, it is up to individuals to acknowledge and confront them and insist upon change. Both Effa Manley and Helen Keller demonstrate this kind of agency in two beautifully illustrated books – Helen’s Big World (Rappaport, 2012) and The Effa Manley Story (Vernick, 2010). Each of these women encountered prejudice and unfairness that unfortunately were customary for their time period, but neither woman allowed the traditions of the time to stop her in her crusade for equality and justice. Many people, I believe, are familiar with Helen Keller and her incredible life journey and struggles in a world that excluded people with disabilities. However, most people may not be aware of Helen’s long history of social justice activism. Moreover, I suspect that Effa Manley’s inspiring fight for civil rights will not be as well known. Yet both Helen and Effa lived extraordinary lives that would enhance any educational curriculum: their life stories present vivid models of social justice in action. As Audrey Vernick writes and Don Tate so beautifully captures in bold detail, Effa Manley grew up with a deep appreciation for baseball. She also was keenly aware of the egregiousness of segregation due to skin color. At a young age, Effa, a light-skinned Black child, was told by her principal “not to play wit