A review by bibliobrandie
Victory. Stand!: Raising My Fist for Justice by Tommie Smith, Derrick Barnes

5.0

Incredible graphic novel memoir about Tommie Smith. You are introduced to Tommie and his family as sharecroppers in Texas. The family then migrates north to California where Tommie has his first experience attending an integrated school and also his first experience running track. From there you follow the path that led him to courageously raise his fist in protest for racial justice on the podium at the 1968 Olympic Games. I think this is a perfect graphic memoir and one all students should and will want to read.
For 8th grade book talk: paired with Ghost by Jason Reynolds, Becoming Muhammed Ali by Kwame Alexander, and Before the Ever After by Woodson, Jacqueline.