Seven Sisters and a Brother: Friendship, Resistance, and Untold Truths Behind Black Student Activism in the 1960s (A Pivotal Event in the History of

Seven Sisters and a Brother: Friendship, Resistance, and Untold Truths Behind Black Student Activism in the 1960s (A Pivotal Event in the History of

The Story Behind an Unsung Event in the Civil Rights Movement “Over eight days, eight students sparked change that defined their lives, changed an institution and fueled a movement that continues today.” ─ Alberto Ibargüen , President and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and former publisher of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald #1 New Release in 1960s History of the U.S. and 2020 Finalist Sarton Women's Literary Award for Nonfiction with Special Recognition Fighting injustice and racism.  This narrative tells the story of seven women and one man at the heart of a black power sit-in protesting decreased enrollment and hiring of African Americans at Swarthmore College, and demanding an African American Studies curriculum. The book, written by the former students themselves, includes autobiographical chapters providing a view into the lives of young people during the Civil Rights era. Correcting media representation.  For years the media and some in the school community portrayed the peaceful protest in a negative light―this collective narrative provides a very necessary and overdue retelling of the revolution that took place at Swarthmore College in 1969. The group of eight student protestors only recently have begun to receive credit for the school’s greater inclusiveness, as well as the influence their actions had on universities around the country. The incredible true civil rights movement story in  Seven Sisters and a Brother  teaches us key lessons: Old established institutions can change and will continue to change - The struggle to give Black history, Black experiences, and Black lives a well earned place in our culture is winnable - Truth can prevail when we unite with others and refuse to accept surrender If you’ve read  Warriors Don’t Cry ,  Between the World and Me , Pulse of Perseverance , Barack Obama’s A Promised Land , or Cicely Tyson’s Just as I Am ; then you’ll love  Seven Sisters and a Brother .   Authors include: Marilyn Allman Maye • Harold S. Buchanan • Jannette O. Domingo • Joyce Frisby Baynes • Marilyn Holifield • Myra E. Rose • Bridget Van Gronigen Warren • Aundrea White Kelley “In this fascinating group narrative, the organizers of Swarthmore College’s 1969 eight-day sit-in join voices to tell the story of how “Seven Sisters and a Brother” used peaceful protest to effect change. Looking back on the events of fifty-years ago, the authors have combined their stories as a “choral memoir” of the Takeover which forced their college to respond to the demands of Swarthmore’s Afro-American Students Society. As well as a history of their activism, this account includes the authors’ own autobiographies, providing compelling portraits of the lives of the young people who risked their futures to make a difference.” -Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor, Harvard University, including Stony the Road: White Supremacy and the Rise of Jim Crow “Seven Sisters and a Brother illuminates the institutional failures of an elite liberal arts college in the 1960s and the work of a dedicated group of Black students to change the culture and policies of their school. Theirs is a story of the power of collective action, the value of shared identity, and the thrill of progress. Framed by a national culture of activism during the time, their accounts beautifully reflect the changes brought by the Civil Rights Movement and Black activism across the country. This memoir captures the struggle to bring Black history, Black experiences, and Black lives to the forefront of the academy. It will serve as an important guide for today’s students, faculty, administrators, and all others in the world of higher education.” -Donna Shalala, U.S. Congresswoman (D-FL 27th District), former President of the University of Miami, former President of Hunter College, and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services “Over eight days, eight students sparked change that defined their lives, changed an institution and fueled a movement that continues today. At this contentious time in our nation’s history, we can take lessons from the humanity and tenacity of these change makers, and inspiration from their courage and commitment to principle.” -Alberto Ibargüen, President and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and former publisher of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald “Anyone who cares about the course of higher education in America should read this book. It tells the important and moving story of how Seven Sisters and a Brother changed the course of history and herstory at Swarthmore College and contributed to bringing a greater presence of Black people and Black Studies to the academy.” -Dr. Johnnetta Cole, President Emerita at Spelman College and Bennett College, former director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art “Seven Sisters and a Brother is a riveting ‘choral memoir’ that provides a compelling account of the 1969 Takeover o