Setting
The events of the book occur in the year 1963 from January to October, which can be considered to be a very turbulent time in history as this was the peak of the Civil Rights Movement.[5] The climax of the story centers around the historic 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham in 1963, soon after the civil rights protests had resulted in successful negotiations with white city leaders for integration.[5] Ku Klux Klan members bombed the church on September 15, 1963, killing four girls and injuring many more.[6] In the novel, the incident occurs a bit earlier than the historical date to allow the Watson family to be on summer vacation in Birmingham when it takes place.
Racial injustice
Professor Jonda C. McNair asserts that humor serves as an important literary device in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 to expose the racism experienced by African Americans in the 1960s.[7] More specifically, she finds that the novel uses four categories of race-related humor to reveal racial oppression in a subtle manner: exaggeration, sarcasm, the anticipation of racism, and mocking white people.[8] For example, Daniel jokes about how the Watson family cannot just stop at any establishment during its road trip to Birmingham; these comments, though communicated in a humorous manner, point to the discrimination faced by African Americans in the South.[8]
Professor Jani L. Barker argues that the narrative techniques in The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963, specifically the first-person narration from Kenny, allow the novel to truthfully communicate the harsh realities of race-based violence without traumatizing its young, vulnerable audience.[9] Since Kenny offers the innocent perspective of a child, younger readers can identify with Kenny and learn about racism from a protective distance that still offers them hope for the future.[9]
Professor Barker also points to the story arc of the novel as an essential element in indirectly combatting racist mindsets.[10] The early chapters of the story depict the everyday life of the Watson family and, thus, allow readers — both Black and non-Black — to recognize the Watson family’s humanity and identify with the protagonists.[10] Race slowly becomes more central as the story progresses until it reaches the climax of race-based violence with the church bombing.[10] This progression fosters a sense of resilience in Black readers as well as empathy for the struggles of Black Americans in non-Black readers.[10]
Gender and sexuality
Professor Amina Chaudhri states that The Watsons Go to Birmingham—1963 fails to question the sexism and heterosexual norms that pervade American society.[11] She argues that Daniel's and Byron's performances of black masculinity throughout the novel resemble hegemonic masculinity.[11] For example, Byron's recurrent disobedience, such as straightening his hair against his parents' orders, represents an attempt to assert his superiority and power over others.[11]
