New Children's Book is the Story of Unsung Civil Rights Hero, Sarah Keys Evans

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Jan. 4, 2023 - PRLog -- Author Dr. Artika Tyner has a talent for revealing critical, yet often overlooked historical figures. Her newest children's book, "The Untold Story of Sarah Keys Evans: Civil Rights Soldier" (First But Forgotten), tells the true story of an Army veteran who dared to challenge bus segregation a full three years before Rosa Parks.

Published by Capstone Press, the book is now available on Bookshop in a hardcover and Kindle edition. Written for ages 8 to 11, the 32-page book is a true account that will be equally fascinating to children and adults

Born Sarah Louise Keys in Washington, N.C., in 1929. A shy and quiet girl, she attended a segregated Catholic school and graduated nursing school in New Jersey. She enlisted in the Women's Army Corps (WAC) in 1951, eagerly anticipating the opportunity to further her education, travel, meet new people, and serve her country. She was assigned as a receptionist at the Fort Dix military hospital.

The Army veteran inadvertently made history, became an unsung hero of the civil rights movement, and brought to light the illegal activities of the Carolina Coach Company. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 1946 that segregation was illegal for transportation companies operating across state lines. The bus company chose to ignore the ruling.

In Aug. 1952, Evans was ordered to relinquish her seat to a white Marine while journeying home to visit her family. Cognizant of her rights, she refused. She was arrested, falsely accused of disorderly conduct, and convicted. With the assistance of a civil rights lawyer, she fought the charge and won in 1955.

Evans (https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-untold-story-of-sarah-ke...) was discharged from the Army in 1953, moved to Brooklyn, NY, and married George Evans in 1958. She became a highly successful hair stylist. Efforts to keep her story alive have resulted in a variety of honors. The 117^th U.S. Congress is said to be considering a bill that would bestow upon her the Congressional Gold Medal.