The Nationwide Civil Rights Museum options creator Christopher Paul Curtis on the 25th Anniversary of his debut novel

Memphis, TN, February 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – During the publication of the 25th anniversary edition of The Watsons Go to Birmingham (1963), Christopher Paul Curtis discusses the generations with famous author and poet Jason Reynolds in a virtual version ongoing impact of the novel Conversation of the National Civil Rights Museum. The book is a moral coming-of-age story of a young family traveling the South, who grapples with racial hatred and protest, yet raises history, heroes and safe havens – topics Jason Reynolds also encourages youth to come through today To discover literature. The two award-winning authors are part of the museum’s virtual book and author series on March 2nd.

Christopher Paul Curtis’ first novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 – was a hardcover and paperback bestseller and received numerous awards, including a Newbery Honor and a Coretta Scott King Honor Award, as well as his second best seller, Bud, Not Kumpel. Curtis recalls that the idea for his first book came from a family trip to Florida from Flint, Michigan, and was driven by Dudley Randall’s poem “The Ballad of Birmingham”. He took part in a publishing competition. Although he didn’t win, he said, “One editor saw something special in the Watsons, and my book was later published anyway.”

Curtis’ recent novels include The Mighty Miss Malone, Mr. Chickees Messy Mission, Mr. Chickees Funny Money, and Bucking the Sarge.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963 put young readers through the eyes of a hardworking, thoughtful little boy whose family is embroiled in one of the darkest moments in American history during the tumultuous summer of 1963. The moral of the story is that even in the toughest of times, laughter and loved ones can help you get through almost anything. For many young readers, Curtis’ book was an introduction to the civil rights movement, and many of those readers are now activists calling for change and leading the Black Lives Matter movement around the world – activists who would share this story with their own children Day.

One such literary activist is Jason Reynolds, recently named a National Ambassador for Youth Literature by the Library of Congress, who leads a national virtual tour to inspire teenagers to read and write. Reynolds co-wrote with Ibram X. Kendi Stamped: Racism, Anti-Racism and You and a remix of the National Book Award winning Stamped from the start. Reynolds’ other award-winning work for middle and young adult readers includes The Boy in the Black Suit, All American Boys, Long Way Down, and As Brave As You, all of which have colored teens as protagonists.

The Q&A interview with Curtis & Reynolds is designed to weave the intergenerational story of African Americans’ struggle against racial discrimination and violence to engage a new generation of change makers. Autographs for the 25th anniversary edition of The Watsons Go to Birmingham are available at the museum.

The Book & Author Series virtual event will take place on Tuesday, March 2, at 6:00 p.m. at headquarters and is free and open to the public. Registration is required to receive the webinar link. More information is available at Civilrightsmuseum.org.

Via the National Civil Rights Museum

The NATIONAL CIVIL RIGHTS MUSEUM in the historic Lorraine Motel, where civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated provides a comprehensive overview of the American civil rights movement from slavery to the present day. Since the museum opened in 1991, millions of visitors have come from around the world, including more than 90,000 students annually. The museum serves as a new public space and is determined to mark the site of the murder of Dr. To honor and preserve Martin Luther King Jr. It records the American civil rights movement and tells the story of the ongoing struggle for human rights. It acts as a catalyst to stimulate action to create positive social change. The museum is a Smithsonian subsidiary and an internationally recognized cultural institution. It is recognized as the National Medal Award 2019 by the Institute for Museums and Library Services (IMLS), the highest national award for museums and libraries. It’s a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Top 5% US Museum, USA Today’s Top 10 Best American Cult Attractions; Top 10 Best Historic Places in the US by TLC’s Family Travel; Must be seen by Budget Travel and Kids by age 15; Top 10 American Treasures from USA Today; and best Memphis attraction from The Commercial Appeal and the Memphis Business Journal.

Connie Dyson National Civil Rights Museum 901-331-5460 [email protected]