The more I learn about the Civil Rights Movement as an adult, the more I’m shocked at how little was taught to me in school. In my school, even far away from the South where many of these events took place, so many elements of the struggle were white-washed (literally) or glossed over. I learned that Brown v. Board in 1954 ordered the desegregation of schools, but I don’t remember ever hearing of the violence, outrage, and resistance that accompanied that. “A Most Tolerant Little Town” did a lot to educate me. And while much of it was horrifying to read, I’m grateful that I now have a more accurate understanding of what that time period wrought and what Black children had to go through just to obtain their right to an education.

This non-fiction book by Rachel Louise Martin covers the events surrounding Clinton High School in Tennessee. In September 1956, the school became the first school in the former Confederacy to be court-ordered to desegregate. Twelve Black high school students bravely went to school every day with tons of protestors, many of whom stood outside the school yelling death threats while they tried to learn. The violence only escalated as the school year progressed. What started as protests grew into violent mobs, beatings, and bombings. Overt racism of the most horrible kind was present – and is especially abhorrent since most of it was aimed at children. Martin was able to recount these events with a great deal of factual information and firsthand accounts, so that many events felt like they were unfolding right in front of my eyes.

Through Martin’s writing, I was able to get a true appreciation for the Black families that lived in harm’s way every single day. These teenagers showed more fortitude and dedication to receiving an education than I would think is humanly possible. While none of the white residents of Clinton would have called themselves integrationists, several individuals were devoted to maintaining law-and-order and did try to embrace the students and provide them with an education. But those people were often in the minority when it came to the town’s attitudes towards the Black population.

There were many aspects of desegregation that I was unfamiliar with prior to reading this book, so it was hugely educational and eye-opening for me. There were a few things that detracted from the story – mainly that I found it really difficult to keep all the different people straight. I also would have loved it if the book had included photographs. I think it would have added a lot of historical significance and served as a reminder that these were all real people.

I applaud Martin for taking on this event to research, and I wish that schools would teach more about this part of our country’s history. We need to be taught about these types of events so that we’re not doomed to keep repeating them.

4.5 stars

*Copy provided by Simon & Schuster in exchange for an honest review*