Moon U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to the People, Places, and Events that Made the Movement

In Partnership with the Membership Libraries Group, join Folio board member Linda Jenning and Award-winning journalist and author Deborah D. Douglas for a conversation about her new book Moon U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to the People, Places, and Events that Made the Movement (Moon Travel Guides).

Take the road less traveled and follow the twist and turns of one of America’s most momentous eras: the Civil Rights Movement. Written by award-winning journalist and author Deborah D. Douglas, Moon U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to the People, Places, and Events that Made the Movement (Moon Travel Guides), takes homebound travelers and curious minds on an eye-opening journey inspired by the official Civil Rights Trail (established in 2018 by Travel South). Both a functional tour guidebook and narrative, U.S. Civil Rights Trail brings the movement’s most pivotal moments to life through illustrative storytelling, historical sites, and cultural experiences. As the 20th century Civil Rights Movement continues to serve as inspiration and a blueprint for many modern-day calls for justice and equality, Moon U.S. Civil Rights Trail helps readers understand the movement’s impact, and commemorates the people, places, and events that shifted America toward change.

“Black communities and cultural experiences rarely make it into official travel messaging and resources, as they are not often thought of as destinations or must-dos. But they are,” Douglas said. “In Moon U.S. Civil Rights Trail, I encourage visitors to patronize Black-owned restaurants, shops, and other local happenings that celebrate the contributions African Americans have made to American culture and history.”  Writing this guidebook came naturally for Douglas. A product of the Great Migration, she grew up hearing stories about life before and after her family moved from the South to the North. Having lived in Chicago, Detroit, and Memphis metro as a child, Douglas layers in a unique storyline that makes each guidebook recommendation feel personal and thoughtfully curated.

About the author:

Deborah D. Douglas is the Eugene S. Pulliam Distinguished Visiting Professor of Journalism at DePauw University and a senior leader with The OpEd Project, leading fellowships and programs that include the University of Texas at Austin, Dartmouth College, Columbia University, Urgent Action Fund in South Africa and Kenya, and the McCormick Foundation-funded Youth Narrating Our World (YNOW). While teaching at her alma mater, Northwestern University’s Medill School, she created a graduate investigative journalism capstone on the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and taught best practices in Karachi, Pakistan. She is an award-winning journalist, including the 2019 Studs Terkel award, and founding managing editor of MLK50: Justice Through Journalism. Douglas is author of “Moon U.S. Civil Rights Trail: A Traveler’s Guide to the People, Places and Events That Made the Movement” and is among 90 contributors to “Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019,” edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain (Random House).

About the Membership Libraries Group:

Formed in 1991 the Membership Library Group (MLG) is a consortium of 16 membership libraries across the United States. The 16 organizations of the MLG are sharing resources to allow members to hear from and connect with some of the brightest and most innovative minds in literature, history, the arts, and the sciences.

Membership libraries trace their history in America to the 18th century when Benjamin Franklin founded the Library Company of Philadelphia. These libraries played a significant role in their communities. While most subscription libraries were replaced or taken over with the advent of free public libraries in the 19th century, several have survived and thrived.

More information about our sister institutions is available in the 2007 book America’s Membership Libraries and on Folio's website.

About Moon Travel Guides: 

Since 1973, Moon has been guiding travelers to unique, authentic experiences in more than 200 destinations around the world. We believe in the power of travel to connect people and enrich lives, and our authors are local experts who share our commitment to independent businesses, diversity, and ethical travel. Moon Travel Guides are published by Avalon Travel, an imprint of Perseus Books, a Hachette Book Group company. Visit our website at www.moon.com and follow us on social media @moonguides.