The First Step

The First Step tells an important and lesser-known story about Sarah Roberts, a schoolgirl who was not allowed to attend school in Boston in 1847 because of her skin color. Sarah and her family persisted by fighting this injustice; they took the City of Boston to court! Roberts v. City of Boston was the first case to challenge the United States’ legal system to outlaw segregation in schools. The Roberts family lost the battle, but their case was the first step toward desegregating schools. It’s important for children to learn that even if you don’t win, it’s vital to speak… show more.

In 1847, a police officer entered an elementary school classroom in Boston and threw Sarah Roberts out. Because she was an African American student in a school filled with white students. This book tells the story of the lawsuit that bears her name, Roberts v. City of Boston, which was the opening salvo in the fight for school integration. Spoiler alert: Sarah lost her lawsuit. As the book says, “The march toward justice is a long, twisting journey. Three steps forward, one step back.” A book that reminds us that losing a battle isn’t the same as losing the war.