This historical-fiction novel by Christopher Paul Curtis was written in 1995 and republished in 1997. It tells the story of a loving African-American family, living in the town of Flint, Michigan in 1963. 

When the oldest son begins to get into a bit of trouble, the parents decide he should spend some time with his strict grandmother, Grandma Sands, (Mrs. Watson's mother) in Birmingham, Alabama. 

The entire family travels there together by car, and during their visit, tragic events take place that affect them collectively. Although the Watson family is fictitious, the story incorporates and centers on the historically factual 1963 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, a critical catalyst of the American civil-rights movement. 

Later in 2013, a movie based on the book of the same name was released (Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia). 

The Watsons Go to Birmingham – 1963

The Watson Challenge

Read text and take accurate 

notes

Research  important 

historical events

Emulate the author’s style of 

writing

Create a poster to display in our 

classroom

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: Introduction

Kenny has problems.

The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963: Introduction

His friend stole his toys.

And he thinks his lazy eye makes him look funny.

His older brother, Byron, is mean to him.

Kenny’s parents have decided that Byron needs to spend a summer in Birmingham with his grandmother, who’ll teach him how to behave.

Kenny thinks this sounds too good to be true. Will one of his problems really go away?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY4jbYNTmKs

One day Kenny’s family decides to take a cross-country trip from Michigan to Alabama.

But in Birmingham, Kenny’s problems collide with America’s problems.

 Report to the American People on Civil Rights, 11 June 1963CBS motion picture excerpt containing President John F. Kennedy’s full radio and television report to the American people on civil rights.

http://www.jfklibrary.org/Asset-Viewer/Archives/TNC-262-EX.aspx

Video of Children’s March In Birmingham, Alabama http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/2013/04/26/april-26-2013-birmingham-and-the-childrens march/16051/

PBS NewsHour: Freedom Riders Discuss 50th Anniversary of Protest MovementInterview of two women Freedom Riders discussing their experienceshttp://video.pbs.org/video/1922856991/

Growing up under Jim Crow in Birmingham, Alabamahttp://video.pbs.org/video/2227535292/

Civil Rights March on Washingtonhttp://archive.org/details/CivilRightsMarch

Historical Resources

One-minute video with George Wallace saying, “Segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.”http://www.wyzant.com/help/history/hpol/wallace/segregation

The 1963 March on Washington civil rights rallyMLK, John Lewis and clergymen exemplify the diversity of the march, indicating the importance of community, support and collective action.http://www.dvarchive.com/stock-footage/000-3946/

Children’s march, protesting, courageously being arrested, attack dogs being used against patrons, all to the backdrop of MLK’s speech.http://fastimages.net/films/movie.jsp?id=205794

Extended clip of MAJOR moments of Civil Rights Movement, incorporating all major moments. http://www.myfootage.com/search.php?search=bull+connor&match_type=all

Singing “we shall overcome” with the newscast V.O, and MLK’s speech.http://fastimages.net/films/movie.jsp?id=88586

Josephine Baker“Speech at the March on Washington,” 1963http://www.blackpast.org/?q=1963-josephine-baker-speech-march-washington

After Reading The Watsons Go to Birmingham,you will answer the following questions.

Since 1963, how has the United States made progress in fighting racism and discrimination?

Where do barriers between ethnic groups still exist?

What can you do to break down these barriers?

What effects do you think the church bombing had on members of the civil rights movement?

How would you have responded to the bombing, if you were in Birmingham at the time?

What political actions or ideas today affect your family? How have they affected you?

The Watsons’ favorite Music

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY4jbYNTmKs  to show Straighten Up and Fly Right

and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cHB3Rbz1OI  for Yakety Yak