Diane McWhorter grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, in the 1950s and 60s. Set against the back drop of her personal story, this powerful but intimate book explores the sacrifices and triumphs of African Americans in their pursuit of social and political equality and takes a hard, painful look at the often violent resistance they met from white Americans. It profiles the remarkable people and the rise of important organizations in the movement. It analyzes the impact of classic civil rights landmarks and is a fair and balanced presentation that captures the turning points of the movement in a clear and easy to understand way.