Children’s book highlights a real-life friendship during Minnesota’s first school integration

Derek Francis’ debut children’s book is a kid-friendly introduction to an often-overlooked moment in Minnesota’s history: when Minneapolis in 1971 paired a majority black school and majority white school for integration.

“This is history in Minnesota that, growing up, I did not learn about,” Francis said.

“I learned about Ruby Bridges and how that looked in New Orleans but never had a chance to learn about that first integrated bus ride between Hale and Field Elementary,” he said…

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