Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Crow by Barbara Wright
Moses lives in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1898. His father, and several other black men, have been elected as members of the town council and hold other positions within the government. Moses knows that his father is smart and he studies so that he can also have an important job when he grows up. But right now he is more concerned with trying to get his own bicycle and making sure his best friend isn't being stolen away by rich boy Johnny. Tensions in Wilmington are rising as an election comes closer. A series of editorials in the newspaper are contributing to the anger and racism of white citizens. When the election is held, neither race feels like they have gotten what they want and a small group of men decide to take matters into their own hands. This book is based on true events that resulted in disenfranchising black citizens who were just beginning to have a say about their own future. Moses seems to be everywhere for every important event which strained my ability to believe what was happening but I'm probably more critical than most teen readers.