Author: Evelyn Coleman

Illustrator: Tyrone Geter

Overview Story takes place on the porch of a HOT summer’s day when grandmother tells her grandchild she can’t got into town. She then tells about a hot summer day when she was a child and snuck into town to see if it was hot enough to ‘fry an egg on the sidewalk’ as everyone was saying. Sally (grandmother) was thirsty so she stops at a water fountain with the sign ‘WHITES ONLY” so she takes off her black patent-leather shoes and stands in her white socks and takes a drink. There was immediate reaction by a big white man – he knocked her down, yelling that she can’t read - threatening to ‘whup’ her. Innocent Sally was surprised by this reaction. Other non-whites came to the fountain and drank in their stocking feet – which made the big white man angrier and he started hitting Sally. The Chicken Man – a town character reportedly capable of turning people into chickens – came to her rescue. He simply pointed to the Big Man and that was last time anyone saw him around…the ‘Whites Only’ sign was also removed from the water fountain.

• Genre – Fiction• Grades – K thru 4• Ages – 5-9• 1996 Notable Book for Children (Smithsonian Magazine)• 32 Pages

Evelyn Coleman• Psychotherapist, Author of Adult and Children’s books

• Born: 1948, Burlington, NC

• Began writing adult stories while convalescing

• Found it difficult to switch from adults writing to children

• Vowed as a child to write a children’s book “… that had black people in it.” • Children’s books are harder to write than any other form…and take the

longest

• “…today, people must face whether or not they are racist. In the past this could go unchallenged as long as you wrapped in your own cocoon.”

Chapter 10 Checklist Good story…shares incident of racism and innocence

Historically accurate/authentic…demonstrates ‘accepted’ ways in the South, especially Mississippi

Authentic language…Southern accent, vernacular (whup

Historical interpretation…racism, bigotry, courage

Voices missing…non-racist whites are not identified, complacent African-Americans, law enforcement

Insight/understanding of current/past issues…Racism, segregation, and discrimination past and present in U.S. The book points out the problem with judging people by skin color.

Learning Activities1. What do you think?

– Was the big man "right" to yell at the little girl?– What type of behavior/attitude is this called?– Do you think the man has obeyed the "rights" of this child?– Is it ever okay to deny the rights of anyone? Why or why not?

2. Think/Pair/Share:– Have you ever made a mistake; done something where you were misunderstood that

got you into trouble?– How did that make you feel?– Did anyone help you?

3. How are people treated unfairly today?– Give examples and why.– How does what happened in the past influence the way people interact today?

Assessments• Informal:

– Students describe the characters, who is telling the story, what traits they displayed (bravery, anger, fear…)

– Students provide examples from the book of behavior that was based on race

– Students share ideas for stopping discrimination– Students will give examples of how THEY can treat people fairly

• Summative: – Student conduct and report on an interview with someone who was an

adult in the 1950’s/1960’s and share what they remember about discrimination

– Students will write in their journal an incident that they have been in or observed that they think may have occurred due to race.

Other books by E. Coleman

BibliographyThe Foot Warmer and the Crow (1994)The Glass Bottle Tree (1995)White Socks Only (1996)What If (1997)The Riches of Osceola McCarthy (1998)The Flight of Kites (1999)To Be a Drum (2000)Mystery of the Dark Tower (2000)Born in Sin (2001)Circle of Fire (2001)Shadows on Society Hill: An Addy Mystery (2007)Freedom Train (2008)