While the World Watched: Book Review

While the World Watched, by Carolyn Maull McKinstry

While the World Watched tells the story of Carolyn Maull McKinstry’s life growing up during the height of the Civil Rights torn south. From the first page, the reader is given a glimpse into what it was like to live as an African American in Birmingham, Alabama in the 1960s. The central event of the book is the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing in1963, but McKinstry details many other incidents of Civil Rights unrest in the deep south.

I really enjoyed this book. McKinstry’s writing style was easy to follow, and I found myself gaining a better understanding of the depth of the Civil Rights problem in the south. I especially appreciated her candid discussion of her faith in God, and how forgiving those who wronged her, changed her life. The one thing that I did not like was the back and forth style at the beginning of the book, going from discussing different characters and events, to the day of the bombing, and back. It would have been easier to follow if she had just started from the beginning and led up to the bombing.

Overall, it was a great book, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves history and desires a deeper understanding of historical events.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Tyndale House Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."