Lillian’s Right to Vote: A Celebration of the Voting Rights Act of 1965

by Jonah Winter

“A very old woman stands at the bottom of a very steep hill. It’s voting day, she’s an American, and by God , she is going to vote.”

In this story we join Lillian, a 100 year-old Black woman, on her journey to cast her vote. The book alternates between present day and Lillian’s memories of her ancestors experiences through the generations; beginning with enslavement. The reader will gain an understanding and respect for the battles Black men and women in this country had to overcome in order to gain the right to vote. You will also have a renewed appreciation for protecting the right of every individual in this country to cast their vote.

Story Read Aloud

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Talk About It

• Take a minute and think together about the fact that Lillian is 100 years old and is preparing to vote. What importance do you think this day has for her? Do you think it is something she takes fore-granted? Think about the parts of history she has had to witness and overcome in order to vote, including systemic racismRules and behaviors within a business or group that treat people of color negatively. This can impact things like where someone lives, how much money they make, access to clean water, and the kinds of interactions they have with police and the law. More and sexismTreating someone differently, usually in a negative way, based upon their gender.  It is most often used in talking about stereotypes and negative treatment of women. More.
• What do you think about the idea that human beings were sold to other human beings? Do you think this should ever have been allowed? Talk to your child about the history of enslavement in the United States including forcefully removing men, women, and children from Africa; granting them no rights or protections from their enslavers; forcing them to work long, hard hours for no pay; and the generally held belief that White people were superior to Black people and so choosing to enslave another human was somehow okay.
• What do you notice about the picture of Elijah, Sarah, and baby Edmund? What do you think about placing people in chains? Talk about how inhumane this is and was another way for enslavers to have control and power. Do you notice that Elijah is naked? Talk about how this was forced upon men so that their muscles and strength could easily be seen to help with the price of the sale. How do you think this treatment made Elijah and his family feel?
• Have you heard the quote, ” All men are created equal?” Explain to your child that this is part of the Declaration of Independence , but the reality is that enslavedThe correct way to talk about slavery. It shows that slavery was something forced upon people. (No one ever chose to be enslaved. In fact, they were never given a choice.) It also reminds us to think about who all of these people were in their lives with family and friends. More men, women, and children were viewed as property and not people and therefore not granted the basic freedoms and rights granted by this document. What does your child think about this? Do you think that we have reached a point in our country where all people are treated equally? Why or why not?
• Has your child heard of the Civil War? If not check out our resource page Learn More About It: Enslavement and the Path to Juneteenth.
• The Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution granted all men the right to vote regardless of raceWhen people are grouped based upon certain physical characteristics; most commonly skin color. More or skin color. This allowed former enslavedThe correct way to talk about slavery. It shows that slavery was something forced upon people. (No one ever chose to be enslaved. In fact, they were never given a choice.) It also reminds us to think about who all of these people were in their lives with family and friends. More men the right to vote. As the book describes, the ability to vote filled Lillian’s ancestors with “dignity and pride.” However, it is important to talk about the fact that White men came up with numerous ways to make it hard for Black men to exercise this right. To learn more visit Fifteenth Amendment Facts. What do you think it must have felt like to have finally obtained freedom and be recognized by the federal government of the United States only to have new laws and rules created to keep you from truly being equal?
• Why do you think the author points out how steep the hill is that Lillian is climbing? Share with your child that this is about so much more than her physical journey to vote, but references the long emotional road of mistreatment and racismThe belief that a person's personality, behavior, & values is based solely upon their race. It is also the belief that one group of people are better than another. More that Black people have experienced in this country.
• Think about the questions Lillian’s uncle was asked. Could you answer how many bubbles are in a bar of soap? Do you know anyone who could? Why do you think these types of questions were asked? Talk about the fact that the whole purpose was to make the test impossible so that Black people in this country could legally be denied the right to vote. Scare tactics were also used like burning crosses on people’s lawns or physically hurting them. These things were done because White men wanted to protect the power and leadership they felt should only belong to them. Do you think this is right? Do you think one group of people should hold all the power in a country?
• What do you think Lillian was thinking and feeling when she went with her mother after women were granted the right to vote in 1920? Adults: What role do you have your children play in helping you vote each election? Spend some time talking about why voting is so important; especially right now when we must take action to demand changes in this country that will end things like systemic racismRules and behaviors within a business or group that treat people of color negatively. This can impact things like where someone lives, how much money they make, access to clean water, and the kinds of interactions they have with police and the law. More and mistreatment of immigrants.
• Explain to your child that Jimmie Lee Jackson was a Civil RightsA group of rights (things promised to you) that protect people's ability to live life within a larger group (usually a country) without being treated unfairly because of things like skin color, gender, physical limitations, or religion. Civil rights include protecting people's physical and emotional safety. More ActivistSomeone who feels so strongly about an issue (like racial equality or ending bullying) that they are willing to take action to make a change.  Activists spend time and energy learning more about a topic and sharing that knowledge with others.  Activists speak up when they notice someone or something being treated unfairly. More in Alabama who fought tirelessly to improve equality for Black Americans, including the right to vote. Parents can learn more by visiting Jackson, Jimmie Lee; Jimmie Lee Jackson; or Who Mourns for Jimmie Lee Jackson. Talk about the fact that thousands of men and women, White and Black, put their lives at risk during the early 1960s in fighting for desegregationEnding rules or actions that separate people of different races. In the United States this meant getting rid of things like separate bathrooms or water fountains for Black and White people. It also made it not okay to refuse to let a Black person do things like stay at a hotel or eat in restaurant. More. Sadly, while progress was made, racismThe belief that a person's personality, behavior, & values is based solely upon their race. It is also the belief that one group of people are better than another. More continues to be a significant problem in this country and requires continued action to demand change.
• Pause and talk about the Civil RightsA group of rights (things promised to you) that protect people's ability to live life within a larger group (usually a country) without being treated unfairly because of things like skin color, gender, physical limitations, or religion. Civil rights include protecting people's physical and emotional safety. More MovementA group of people acting as one because of a shared belief. More. The March from Selma to Montgomery is a great example of peaceful protesting and the violence inflicted upon people participating. The police were instructed that physical injuries to innocent people was acceptable in order to defend the privileges Southern states felt should only belong to White citizens. Do you think desegregationEnding rules or actions that separate people of different races. In the United States this meant getting rid of things like separate bathrooms or water fountains for Black and White people. It also made it not okay to refuse to let a Black person do things like stay at a hotel or eat in restaurant. More would have happened without people protesting, boycotting, and speaking up for change?
• What did you think or feel the moment Lillian pulled the lever to vote? Adults share your own thoughts and feelings touching on the respect for the people who protested, fought, and lost their lives for Lillian to have this moment. You can also highlight Lillian’s appreciation for the fact that she is able to vote and seeing it as her responsibility to keep fighting for change. How does your family think about the importance of voting?
• Be sure to read the author’s notes. Talk to your child about the Supreme Court’s decision to eliminate federal oversight of state voting procedures and the ways this has negatively impacted many Black communities. Here is an informative article to help educate Adults: Systemic Inequality and American Democracy.

Explore More

• Spend time learning more about the history of voting rights in the United States and around the world. Read: History of Voting; US Voting Rights Timeline; Teaching the Truth About Voter Suppression; and A Lesson on Voters’ Rights – and Suppression – During a Pandemic That Students Won’t Learn in Textbooks. Watch: The History of Voting Rights in the United States or History of Voting Kid Friendly.
• Spend some time learning more about the Civil RightsA group of rights (things promised to you) that protect people's ability to live life within a larger group (usually a country) without being treated unfairly because of things like skin color, gender, physical limitations, or religion. Civil rights include protecting people's physical and emotional safety. More MovementA group of people acting as one because of a shared belief. More, in particular the Selma to Montgomery Marches mentioned in the book. Read: The Selma Marches for Voting Freedom and Selma to Montgomery Marches.
• The fact is that voter suppressionRules and actions used to lower the number of voters of a certain group (in the United States it has historically been Black voters) by discouraging or preventing them from voting. More continues to be a real problem in the United States. Research organizations that are working to fight suppression and find ways to participate. Check out: Black Voters Matter; Let America Vote; Common Cause; and When We All Vote. Learn about how you can help by reading Your Guide to Standing Up for Voters’ Rights.
• Make a plan of action on how your family will get involved to increase true equality in access to voting. Make immediate and longer term action items. Your child can participate by writing letters to members of government or making a flyer about the importance of voting and distributing it to houses around your city close to election time. Make a sign to put in your window reminding your neighbors of the need to vote in order to fight for equality in our country.