This was an incredibly thoughtful, comprehensive view of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s, beginning with the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling banning segregated schools, to the passage of the Voting Rights Act and the death of Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s a different look at the civil rights movement from what we’re used to. We’re familiar with MLK, Rosa Parks, John Lewis and LBJ. But few of us are familiar with the people that carried out the groundwork of the movement.


This book describes an initiative to train activists and to provide literacy and civics education to disenfranchised black people of the American South. In the summer of 1954, Esau Jenkins and Septima Clark travelled to Tennessee’s Highlander Center, a rural interracial training school for social change founded by Myles Horton, a white educator with roots in the labor movement. They began working together to help black southerners pass the literacy tests required to vote in the era of Jim Crow, launching the Citizenship Schools project.

This effort grew into a network of nine hundred schools, not only preparing thousands of Black citizens to vote, but creating a generation of activists trained in citizenship, organizing and political advocacy. Led by Clark, this effort brought literacy to adults, while also giving them an understanding of their history and rights. For Clark, voting was a way of giving someone self-respect. This work inspired Rosa Parks, who would go on to inspire the movement.

If you like to read nonfiction about people you haven’t heard of, but should have, this one will fit the bill. It’s primarily about how four people worked with civil rights organizations and leaders to bring education and voting rights to the people. This book would be a perfect companion to Devil in the Grove by Gilbert King, or the graphic memoirs of John Lewis. I’d also recommend it to fans of Isabel Wilkerson, Ta-Nehisi Coates, and Bryan Stevenson.


Septima Clark was particularly inspiring to me. She spent her entire life teaching, and she saw that adults needed to be taught literacy in ways that were practical and not demeaning. One of her first acts of resistance was refusing to cancel her NAACP membership when her school district demanded it. She turned that resistance, for which she was fired, into a lifetime of pushing back against what she was told to do. By the end of her life she became a school board member for the school district that fired her, and received an honorary doctorate from the College of Charleston. She was honored by President Carter and has a school in DC named for her.

I don’t know if this book gave me hope, or if it made me even more frustrated that the rights that were so painfully fought for, by so many, are eroding. The Voting Rights Act has lost some of its teeth, and people’s basic human rights are disregarded. I became a lawyer because I believe in codifying rights in legislation and enforcing them with the law. Still, this book also reminds us that court cases and laws only mean something if they are enforced. Even when the Voting Rights Act got rid of racist literacy tests and fees, people were terrorized to keep them from voting. And while fair voting practices should lead to diverse representation, resulting in the rights of all people being respected, we have a very long way to go.

This won’t be a book for anyone with a casual interest in the civil rights movement. It’s a detailed look at the very small things that make up a movement, the day to day work and sacrifices. It’s a look at the highs and lows; the violence and the successes. No movement is perfect, and this one wasn’t either, particularly in its treatment of the women who did much of the work. Still, it shows how the work of many is needed behind the scenes to make real progress happen.

This book took me a long time to read, because there’s a lot to it and it’s a heavy subject. For those looking for nonfiction that reads more like fiction, this one won’t appeal, since it’s a fairly straightforward chronological description of events. It can be dry at times, despite its compelling subject. But it’s well-researched and added so much to what I knew of the civil rights movement, I think it’s a book everyone should read.

Note: I received an advance review copy from NetGalley and publisher Atria Books. This book was published March 4, 2025.

Wow - this one was really good. This book that centers around 4 activists and their work to ensure the voting rights of Black Americans during the Civil Rights movement in the US. The effort was known as the Citizenship Schools project and features the Highlander Research and Education School in Tennessee, and it was fascinating. The school was started in 1932 in the midst of the Depression where it provided training and education for emerging and existing movements throughout Appalachia and the South. It focuses on its work educating people on literacy and citizenship so that they would be prepared to be able to vote. It was a very good book and such a detailed accounting of what both the activist and regular people went through to win basic rights for people. Highly recommended!

This is a powerful, hugely important look into the roots of the civil-rights movement. It centers on four activists and their work in education, and I have to admit, even as someone who seeks out information about civil rights and social justice, I knew surprisingly little about these folks and this history! I am so grateful to have read SPELL FREEDOM and have already gifted it to a couple people! I’ll come back to this one for sure. It’s a must-read! Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for this e-arc.

Pre-Read notes

I'm keenly interested in the history of fights for rights. Something incredibly valuable can be gleaned from such stories - a keener sense of empathy and a creativity toward resolution of the shared history of racism in the US.

Final Review

Review summary and recommendations

I read a lot about social activism and human rights, I like learning more about this subject. Spell Freedom was an arc I requested because I try to read all the new offerings. This history of the Civil Rights movement and the activism that made it run contains a ton of fascinating information, much of which I hadn't heard before. Unfortunately, I found Weiss's style dry and her approach to lack organization. As a result, this one was a bit of a slog. I got through it though because I wanted to get all the history.

If you find this a dull read, I encourage you to stick with it. The history here is huge and compact.

Reading Notes

Three (or more) things I loved:

1. I'm learning more than I ever had about the Civil Rights Movement and its roots in the fight for educational equality, such as desegregation.

Three (or less) things I didn't love:

This section isn't only for criticisms. It's merely for items that I felt something for other than "love" or some interpretation thereof.

1. This history is fascinating and I'm glad to know it, but unfortunately the reading is extremely dry. I'm actually having trouble identifying highlights for my notes because this huge topic is being presented in too pat a way and it's organization is lacking.

Rating: 💜💜💜.5 /5 compassionate hearts
Recommend? yes
Finished: Mar 23 '25
Format: accessible digital arc, NetGalley
Read this book if you like:
🗞 nonfiction
🌏 history
✊️ Civil Rights activism history
✏️ US education history

Thank you to the author Elain Weiss, publishers Atria Books, and NetGalley for an advance digital copy of SPELL FREEDOM. All views are mine.
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This was phenomenal, I love how the author wove all of these stories together. It was nonfiction written like a novel and I could not stop listening to the audiobook. I learned a lot from this, especially about Septima Clark and the Citizenship Schools. This did not shy away from the uncomfortable, I cringed multiple times at the horrific racism displayed and that’s the point. I really recommend the audiobook, Robin Miles did a fantastic job bringing these stories to life. Thank you to Netgalley and Atria for the arc, I really enjoyed it.

Centred on the stories of Septima Clark, Bernice Robinson, Esau Jenkins, and Myles Horton, Elaine Weiss’s Spell Freedom is a meticulously researched and fact-driven account of the underground Citizenship Schools that played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement. Through the power of education, these activists defied systemic oppression, equipping African Americans with the tools to overcome Jim Crow-era voter suppression and claim their rightful place in democracy.

For those seeking a deeper understanding of the activists who fought for voting rights during the Civil Rights Movement, Spell Freedom offers a compelling and valuable account of their perseverance and impact.

Kind thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

What a time for this book to come out. I think this is an important read for everyone, but especially educators. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

I loved this book. While this is a history book, it reads like a story. The writing style and tone were so engaging, and I appreciated learning about the events through the people who were involved. The content is especially timely in today's world, and I appreciated learning about an aspect of history that, while not covered in the history textbooks, dovetails with the events that are covered in high school and college. I think this would make for a great read for anyone interested in learning more about the history of voting rights and a lesser-known movement in the Civil Rights Era,

A timely and very necessary read! I think this powerful for everyone to read, no matter your walk of life, especially in the climate that the USA is in now! These are the things that are not taught in schools today, so keeping them alive through words especially the written word is very important.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Elaine Weiss's "Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools That Built the Civil Rights Movement" is a powerful exploration of the hidden Citizenship Schools that played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement. With meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Weiss sheds light on these grassroots educational efforts, which were vital in challenging Jim Crow laws and inspiring change.

Weiss’s historical accuracy stands out, as she draws on archival materials, interviews, and firsthand accounts to vividly portray the underground schools as beacons of hope and resistance. These makeshift classrooms, often in basements, churches, and homes, taught not only literacy but also the principles of equality and defiance, fostering the leaders who would reshape the nation.

"Spell Freedom" serves as both a tribute to the resilience of those who risked everything for education and a reminder of the enduring power of community-driven action. It emphasizes the importance of grassroots organizing and education as tools for social change, offering readers practical lessons in activism.

In sum, "Spell Freedom" is an essential addition to Civil Rights literature, illuminating an overlooked chapter of history while inspiring readers to reflect on their own role in creating a more just world.

When an opportunity arises to fight the Jim Crow era head on, South Carolina native Septima Clark doesn’t hesitate. Instead, she teams up with other activists and starts hundreds of schools to teach Black people how to read, write, and vote. Without her crucial contributions, the Civil Rights Movement most likely would never have moved forward. Elaine Weiss shares the little-known story of Clark and others in her dynamic new nonfiction release, Spell Freedom: The Underground Schools That Built the Civil Rights Movement.

It's 1954, and the United States Supreme Court has handed down a stunning ruling: segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. Those who have favored, supported, and pushed for keeping the races separate are downright appalled, but for Septima Clark it’s an opportunity. As a Black woman who has faced the very worst of mankind due to white supremacy, Septima understands a court ruling is just one point of view and a highly unpopular one in South Carolina where she lives. But with the highest court in the land making this statement, Septima knows people will be forced at some point to listen.

Septima isn’t naïve. Even with the court’s ruling, many schools and states flat out ignore the order to integrate. With her 50-plus years behind her, Septima takes the long view. If Black people are going to have any say in their treatment, they need to vote. In order to vote, many of them will have to learn to read and write first. Voting rules state that people registering for the first time must pass a literacy test and also answer questions about their individual state’s constitution. With the constant beating down Black people have faced, coupled with segregation, most African Americans can’t do any of those things.

That doesn’t mean they won’t do them in the future, however. Septima teams up with local leader Esau Jenkins on Johns Island, South Carolina, and the two travel to Highlander Folk School in Tennessee. The school was founded by labor movement activist Myles Horton; recently Horton has become more and more troubled by the racial tension and wants to pivot his teachings from labor unions to matters of race. In him, Septima and Esau find a white man willing to listen and learn about the intense struggles of Black people.

They decide to start literacy schools for Black people on Johns Island. Esau’s clear-headed optimism leads him to believe that people will benefit from the schools, but it won’t be easy to get them there. And his prediction turns out to be right. What he can’t predict—what none of them can—is the fervor that grips the southeastern states for this kind of learning. Starting with fear ruling their hearts, the first Black students eventually gain confidence and then become bolder. They decide to stand up for their rights.

The timing of the schools coincides with a greater movement across the country, a demand by more and more people of all races to give African Americans what is their proper due. As the momentum picks up, Septima continues working with residents across the southeast. She teaches them how to open their own schools, how to fight back with peaceful protests, and what it means to demand to be treated the way any citizen of this country should.

Author Elaine Weiss performs a great act of civil service herself by writing about Septima Clark. Martin Luther King Jr. called Septima the “Mother of the Movement,” yet too many people don’t know about this remarkable woman. Through Weiss’s book, readers will learn about Septima’s personal struggles, her own doubts about the direction of the desegregation and Civil Rights movements, and the high price so many paid in the name of equality. With current events, Weiss’s book feels almost prescient of the adage that those who forget history are doomed to repeat it.

Weiss also offers an inside look at the Civil Rights movement as King became more prominent within it. Despite Septima’s grueling, backbreaking work for the literacy schools, despite the compliments King gave her, Septima and so many other women, including teacher Bernice Robinson, were treated like second-class citizens themselves. The fight for equality, it seems, only extended to the races and men.

For those who want to learn about a part of the Civil Rights movement previously unknown to them, this is a seminal work that should be required reading in all high schools.

Spell Freedom is a powerful and necessary read, shining a light on four incredible individuals, Septima Clark, Esau Jenkins, Bernice Robinson, and Myles Horton who played a crucial role in the Civil Rights Movement. Through education and literacy, they empowered Black southerners to navigate the deliberately impossible voter registration tests designed to disenfranchise them.

This book takes readers through both the pre- and post-Supreme Court ruling on segregation, highlighting the relentless fight for justice and the immense impact of grassroots activism. The role of education and teachers in this movement is particularly well explored, making it even more relevant today.

I’ll be honest. Reading this was overwhelming. Given everything happening in this country right now, it hits differently than it might have even a year ago. The author does an incredible job weaving together personal experiences and historical context, making these stories feel urgent and deeply personal. As with many historical nonfiction books, there’s a lot of information packed in, but that’s more a reflection of the subject’s depth than a flaw in the writing.

Thank you to Atria Books for this book.

While I know the basics of the Civil Rights Movement, I had no idea about these underground schools that were so pivotal in creating leaders of the movement. I was pleasantly surprised to learn one of the main schools was located in Tennessee, where I'm currently living!

The information in Spell Freedom is concise and helps the reader understand the current events of the time. Weiss has created an accessible and easily readable account of this grassroots movement and the unwavering dedication of these often overlooked heroes. I had never heard of Septima Clark or Esau Jenkins or the many others who put everything at risk for what they deserved and believed in. What was happening in the Jim Crow South was unconscionable, and I was aghast at the lengths many went to in order to prevent the much needed change. Spell Freedom should be required reading for every American!

Spell Freedom is about there underground schools that built the Civil Rights Movement by Elaine Weiss.
This was such a well-researched and well-written piece of history..
A compelling story of four activists whose audacious plan to restore voting rights to Black Americans laid the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement.

I guess we knew about the big names involved in the Civil Rights movement but there were many others, less known, that were involved. This is such an important story. I wish everyone had been encouraged to read this.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Spell Freedom is the story of the people integral to the Civil Rights Movement who, at Highlander Folk School's citizenship program, taught Black Americans to read and write in preparation to vote in the 1950s and 60s. This non-fiction book reads like a novel, is very well told, and you'll find yourself entrenched in the emotional ride. I do however, feel that the pacing was a bit off.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

It's always difficult to assess a book with such an important story when the end result doesn't live up to your expectations. I encountered this with Elaine Weiss' Spell Freedom. It tells the narrative of several people involved in the Citizenship Schools project, which helped Black Americans vote by preparing them for numerous obstacles in the Deep South. Weiss has done extensive research into this important story, but a few big faults hindered me from completely enjoying it. The issue is in the number of characters and how they are handled. There are simply too many persons that Weiss wishes to inform us about. Because of all the history she provides, practically all of her primary characters are given little depth and are not shown as multidimensional individuals. Septima Clark is the perfect example, as her life alone is worth several novels. Clark was a key driving force behind the events depicted in the novel, although Weiss frequently presents her life and feelings as declarative assertions. It's the age-old dilemma of telling rather than demonstrating. Weiss reminds us how amazing Clark was while never allowing her to be complex and flawed. Weiss also uses too few direct quotes. Clark published two autobiographies, so there was enough of material to draw from, but I believe Weiss was attempting to keep the book going to get to the many other personalities and issues. It made the novel and the characters seem rushed.My criticism is not one that everyone will agree with. I wouldn't discourage anyone from reading it. Weiss certainly worked hard and is passionate about the subject, but the storytelling choices hindered it from being a must-read for me.

In 1954, Brown vs Board of Education is fresh in everyone's minds. Southern states had been counting on black citizens to remain uneducated to prevent them from voting. Full desegregation would mean the end of the white power structure. Black schools were often too remote to reach, with no buses, and critically underfunded. This was especially true of South Carolina's Gullah islands. Unwilling to bend to federal law, Southern state courts produced every hurdle imaginable. If one proved sympathetic to the cause, one was immediately fired, brutally attacked, or rounded up by the FBI for "promoting civil unrest" and "communism."

"Spell Freedom" is riveting from start to finish. The narrative moves seamlessly between our main four - with Mrs. Clark at the heart of it - maintaining the black perspective and reader accessibility. Weiss allows their readers to feel welcomed into the Highlander. To feel the joy, anger, patience, determination, fear, and relief that encompasses this unique institution. Their techniques inspire many, like Rosa Parks and John Lewis.

The hell that these folks went through just to be able to register and vote certainly humbles today's dismissive absentees. The political record and public action speak for themselves. This is the America that your parents and grandparents grew up in, may have even participated in. This is the history that gets banned or removed from a curriculum, and yet it is more relevant than ever.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Spell Freedom by Elaine Weiss is a nonfiction written like a novel about the Highlander Folk School and the activists who helped found the Civil Rights Movement. Septima Poinsette Clark was one of the first teachers at the Highlander school, teaching Black American adults how to read and write and assisting them with getting registered to vote in the 1950s and 1960s. Through the hard work of the Highlander school and the teachers trained in the citizenship program, progress could start to be made.

The biggest thing I took away from this book was that the Civil Rights Movement had issues of misogynoir and didn’t highlight the women who were instrumental in making the movement effective. Women taught citizenship classes, literacy, history, fundamental rights all Americans should have, and gave up their time, resources, and even their places of business and were still relegated to a different march and their concerns about gender inequality were brushed aside. It is very disappointing to read that even Dr. King didn’t seem to hold gender equality as an issue as important as racial equality, but it is important to recognize when we discuss the movements and organizations that made positive change the ways in which they fell short so we can do better.

I have no memory of hearing of Septima Clark or any of the women who ran the Citizenship programs before reading this. It’s possible I’ve heard one or two of their names in passing, but not nearly in this much detail. It is infuriating to realize that these women are not household names in the same way Rosa Parks and Dr. King are or that the Highlander school was most likely never mentioned in my education of the Civil Rights Movement at all. Esau Jenkins’ motto ‘Love is Progress, Hate is Expensive’ is something I am going to carry with me for the rest of my life and the triumph for a woman in her 60s learning how to read and write her name. They maybe aren’t as bombastic as other moments, but they are all key components in how voting rights were won.

I cried several times while reading this. The narrative structure helps make the triumphs feel all the more sweet and the tragedies and horrific actions against the members of the Highland school hit harder. Unfortunately, sometimes when a nonfiction book is too dry, it’s hard to emotionally connect to what has happened and that can lead to apathy even if the reader has positive intentions while reading. I felt no apathy at all while reading this. Every Highland school figure was introduced with care and respect, even when discussing their flaws, and Elaine Weiss did not shy away from the more uncomfortable bits. As I read this, I also couldn’t help but connect to what is happening now and how some people in power want to limit who can and cannot vote. We need to learn our history or we are doomed to repeat it and I want to keep learning my history.

Content warning for mentions of sexual assault and depictions of anti-Black violence including the use of slurs

I would recommend this to fans of nonfiction exploring lesser known figures in activism and readers looking for a nonfiction on the foundations of the Civil Rights Movement

I wanted to like this historical novel but too many facts and names got in the way. It was impossible to keep track of the cast of characters without taking notes. This was a seminal time in history for the disenfranchised black community. I felt the author became too detailed and lost the reader. Many a history major taking an advanced seminar might keep up with the events… I could not. The book will not have broad appeal.