This book chronicles the lives of Black Americans from the years 1896 until 1954. It discusses the forces leading to legal segregation; specific segregation laws, federal policy and segregation on a national level; and, early efforts to achieve civil rights. Through photographs and other images, primary sources, and first person accounts, it also looks at the impact of legal segregation on day-to-day life for both black and white Americans, across the country, not just the South and North, particularly from a young person's point of view. The book is distinguished by the Library of Congress' involvement and is a companion of sorts to Linda's previous book "Travelling the Freedom Road", which looked at the lives of black Americans from 1800 to 1877. The book includes a timeline, bibliography, and an index.