A Ride to Remember: A Civil Rights Story

This powerful nonfiction picture book recounts the true story of the desegregation of Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in 1963. Co-authored by Sharon Langley, the first African American child to ride the park's carousel, it details how a diverse community came together through demonstrations and protests to achieve racial equality. The narrative beautifully connects this personal triumph with the larger Civil Rights movement, specifically Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington, which occurred on the very same day. The book includes historical photos, authors' notes, a timeline, and a bibliography, making it an excellent resource for discussing civil rights, fairness, and the impact of collective action with children aged 4-11.

A Ride to Remember tells how a community came together--both black and white--to make a change. When Sharon Langley was born in the early 1960s, many amusement parks were segregated, and African-American families were not allowed entry. This book reveals how in the summer of 1963, due to demonstrations and public protests, the Gwynn Oak Amusement Park in Maryland became desegregated and opened to all for the first time. Co-author Sharon Langley was the first African-American child to ride the carousel. This was on the same day of Martin Luther King Jr.'s March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Langley's ride to remember demonstrated the possibilities of King's dream. This book includes photos of Sharon on the carousel, authors' notes, a timeline, and a bibliography. *- Provided by Publisher*