Belle, the Last Mule at Gee's Bend

By Calvin Alexander Ramsey, Bettye Stroud, John Holyfield (Illustrator)

A mule's journey reveals a pivotal civil rights story.

4.3/5 Goodreads · 341 ratings

32 pages

$8.99Save 5%

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Bookroo's summary

In Gee’s Bend, Alabama, young Alex discovers Belle, a mule with a remarkable past. As he learns about her role in the 1960s civil rights movement, where locals defied authorities to register to vote, Alex gains a personal connection to history. Inspired by Dr. King's visit, the community's determination unfolds through mule-drawn wagons circumventing obstacles. What secrets does Belle hold, and how will they change Alex's understanding of courage and justice?

From the publisher

“This small snapshot of the protest movement pays homage to both the determination of ordinary folk and the power of Dr. King’s words. . . . An intergenerational story filled with heart and soul.” – Kirkus Reviews When Alex spies a mule chomping on greens in a nearby garden, he can’t help but ask about it. “Ol’ Belle?” says Miz Pettway. “She can have all the collards she wants. She’s earned it.” And so begins the tale of an ordinary mule in Gee’s Bend, Alabama, that played a singular part in the civil rights movement of the 1960s. When African-Americans in a poor community – inspired by a visit from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – defied local authorities who were trying to stop them from registering to vote, many got around a long, imposed detour on mule-drawn wagons. As Alex looks into the eyes of gentle Belle, he begins to understand a significant time in history in a very personal way.