Children's Picture Book Database at Miami University

Lizzie demands a seat! Elizabeth Jennings fights for streetcar rights

One hundred years before Rosa Parks took her stand, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Jennings tried to board a streetcar in New York City on her way to church. Though there were plenty of empty seats, she was denied entry, assaulted, and threatened all because of her race -- even though New York was a free state at that time. Lizzie decided to fight back. She told her story, took her case to court -- where future president Chester Arthur represented her -- and won! Her victory was the first recorded in the fight for equal rights on public transportation, and Lizzie's case set a precedent.

Anderson, Beth

Calkins Creek

2020

978-1-62979-939-1

New York

Abstract provided by Library of Congress, 2023