Ain't gonna let nobody turn me 'round My story of the making of Martin Luther King Day

Kirkwood's memoir in free verse details her involvement in the civil rights movement, in particular her efforts to establish Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday as a national holiday. Brief verses highlight the Memphis Cotton Makers Jubilee parade, the Negro Memphis sanitation workers strike, the death of King and the violence that followed, the 1968 March on Washington, and the arguments of those who opposed the MLK commemoration, as well as efforts by others (including Stevie Wonder and former Indiana Representative Katie Hall) to ensure the passage of this honor. The poems are accompanied by black-and-white photos (archival and personal), memorabilia (personal letters, flyers, announcements, etc.), and illustrations (unseen for review). The reproduction quality is good, and items are well chosen to assist younger readers in contextualizing these events. The verses focus on the period between King's death and the adoption of MLK Day as a federal holiday (1968--83); extensive back matter includes a glossary, a bibliography, and a chart on how a bill becomes a law. Both informative and personal, this makes an engaging introduction to these civil rights--era events.