Selma may be the birthplace of the Voting Rights Movement, but the subject is only briefly discussed in most school textbooks, according to Selma City Schools Superintendent Dr. James Carter.

To help give students a better perspective of what happened in their own hometown, the Consortium of Black School Districts, spearheaded by Carter, asked Metropolitan Teaching and Learning (Metro) to published books for grades 3-8 documenting the history of the Civil Rights struggle.

This past weekend the first in a series of three books published by Metro was unveiled during a book signing at the St. James

In “Why We Marched: The Struggle for the Right To Vote,” author Dr. Donna Elam tells the story of the events that took place between January and March of 1965 in Selma, which culminated with the march from Selma to Montgomery.

Elam, a diversity specialist and member of the Florida Commission on Human Relations, spent a year interviewing local Civil Right activists, including the Rev. F.D. Reese, for her book.

“Finally, we have a book that tells the facts about Selma from Selmians,” Carter said. “The Selma perspective has not been told in the way this book laid out the facts.”

Elam, who has done diversity training for the city’s magnet schools, said she was “embraced by the community” as she worked on her book.

“Why We Marched: The Struggle for the Right To Vote,” Elam said, was written for third-grade readers and older.

“This book will hopefully create a lasting awareness in young children about the challenges African-Americans faced in an oppressive society,” she said.

Jason Powe is the author of the other two books in the series, “Time Line for Freedom,” for fifth-grade students, and “From Civil War to Civil Rights: America’s Struggle,” for eighth-grade readers.

According to Metro, “Time Line for Freedom” highlights the fierce determination of those involved in equal rights and the victories of the Civil Rights Movement from 1935 to the 1960s.

“For Civil War to Civil Rights” traces the history of laws that have supported civil rights.

Each of the books, says Metro President Reginald Powe, will be supported by student handbooks, a teacher’s guide, and pre- and post-tests.

“Students really need to know the reason why they (Civil Rights activists) marched and these books give them a clear picture,” Carter said. “The history is not told from a racial perspective, but explains why the marches were needed and why they happened.”

Carter said the school system would begin professional development training for teachers to ensure the books will be taught correctly and students would be using the books by the end of the school year or the beginning of August.