Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement

Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement

by Rick Bowers
Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement
Kids' Club Eligible

Overview

Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement by Rick Bowers

The Spies of Mississippi is a compelling story of how state spies tried to block voting rights for African Americans during the Civil Rights era. This book sheds new light on one of the most momentous periods in American history.

Author Rick Bowers has combed through primary-source materials and interviewed surviving activists named in once-secret files, as well as the writings and oral histories of Mississippi civil rights leaders. Readers get first-hand accounts of how neighbors spied on neighbors, teachers spied on students, ministers spied on church-goers, and spies even spied on spies.

The Spies of Mississippi will inspire readers with the stories of the brave citizens who overcame the forces of white supremacy to usher in a new era of hope and freedom—an age that has recently culminated in the election of Barack Obama.

National Geographic supports K-12 educators with ELA Common Core Resources.
Visit www.natgeoed.org/commoncore for more information.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781426305962
Publisher: National Geographic Society
Publication date: 01/12/2010
Pages: 128
Product dimensions: 6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.60(d)
Age Range: 12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Rick Bowers is a journalist, songwriter, and head of creative projects for the AARP. He lives in Washington D.C.

Wade Henderson is the executive director of the Leadership Commission on Civil Rights.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Prologue 2

1 The Genesis 3

2 Growing Outrage, Growing Backlash 7

3 The "Bible" 11

4 The Pipeline 15

5 The Delta Blues 33

6 Death of a Dream 27

7 The Savior of Segregation 33

8 The Clandestine War 37

9 Never, Never Land 43

10 Overflowing the Jails 47

11 The Battle for Ole Miss 59

12 In the Dead of the Night 71

13 The Secret Benefactor 79

14 Agent X 83

15 Marked Men 89

16 The Magnolia Curtain 95

17 "Destroy This Directive" 97

What Happened Next 103

Documents 108

Bibliography 114

Index 118

Photo Credits 120

Customer Reviews

Average Review

Write a Review

Share This Item

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

See All Customer Reviews

Spies of Mississippi: The True Story of the Spy Network that Tried to Destroy the Civil Rights Movement 4.6 out of 5 based on 0 ratings. 5 reviews.
real-reader More than 1 year ago
I thought I knew the broad outlines of the civil rights movement - but I never knew the extent the state of MS used spies to vilify, diminish and ruin the lives of private citizens. This book highlights a number of cases where Mississippi tossed aside the bill of rights and used a highly efficient spy network to keep tabs on its own black citizens and others. Why? These 'suspicious' folks had the nerve to try to vote, to go to a public school, to use the bathroom at a gas/bus station, to travel freely, to replace a white man in a factory job. The book introduces the Sovereignty Commission files - now on line at MDAH.org - that copiously details every movement of members of the NAACP and CORE during those fateful summers in the early 60's. The story of Clyde Kennard is extremely painful. Read this book, learn from the past. Morn the loss of potential denied to so many. Do better.
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
The link to the Mississippi Sovereignty Commission files should read http://mdah.state.ms.us/arrec/digital_archives/sovcom/.
Anonymous More than 1 year ago
I love myself and civil rights, but mostly MYSELF /:-)