Father Groppi

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Marching for Civil Rights

Stuart Stotts

The inspiring story of a Catholic priest who committed his life to fighting for civil rights and changed the lives of many in his hometown of Milwaukee.

160 pages, 7 x 9, 60 b&w photos
Paperback: $12.95 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-575-0
Ebook: $9.99 | ISBN: 978-0-87020-584-2
Publication Date: 2/25/2013

Reading Level: Ages 8–14, Grades 3–8

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Description

James Groppi grew up on the south side of Milwaukee, the son of Italian immigrants. He knew what it felt like to be mistreated because of who you are, and early on he learned to respect people of other races and ethnicities. While studying to become a priest, Groppi saw first hand the discrimination African Americans faced. It made him angry, and he vowed to do whatever he could to fight racism. Father Groppi: Marching for Civil Rights examines the journey he took to becoming a committed civil rights organizer and advocate in the 1960s and 1970s and the lasting impact he had on his hometown.

On trips to the South and to Washington, DC, Father Groppi marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and other leaders of the civil rights movement. But he knew there was work to be done in his own city. In Milwaukee, he teamed up with the NAACP and other organizations, protesting discrimination and segregation wherever they saw it. It wasn’t always easy, and Father Groppi and the other civil rights workers faced great challenges. But today Milwaukee is a more equal and just place because of their efforts.

This important story of a turbulent time in Wisconsin history sheds light on the civil rights movement and its place in the North. It wasn’t just in Selma and Birmingham that Black people had to overcome racism and segregation. Father Groppi’s life shows how individuals can come together to make lasting change.

Author Bio

Stuart Stotts

Stuart Stotts is a Wisconsin-based author, storyteller, educator, and songwriter who has been captivating audiences—children, educators, and families—for more than forty years. He is a Kennedy Center–recognized teaching artist who delivers engaging school assemblies, writing workshops, and professional development sessions focused on integrating music, movement, and literacy through brain-based, relationship-driven techniques. Stotts has written several children’s books rooted in history and social themes. He lives in Deforest, Wisconsin.