Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
Salem author and longtime educator Forest I. Jones has a new book, “Good Trouble: The Selma, Alabama and Derry, Northern Ireland Connection 1963-1972,” which explores the deep ties between the American Civil Rights Movement and the Catholic Civil Rights Movement in Northern Ireland.
Jones, who has been with the local school division for 30 years, traces his passion for writing back to his high school years. Encouraged by his mother, a reading teacher, he developed a love for books—particularly mysteries—and eventually ventured into writing. Over the years, he has self-published a children’s book, written essays, and produced short stories. His new book represents the culmination of years of research and firsthand interviews.
The idea for “Good Trouble” took root three years ago when Jones visited Northern Ireland and discovered how heavily the Catholic Civil Rights Movement had drawn inspiration from the Black Civil Rights Movement in the United States. Locals in Belfast and Derry shared how they had used the American movement as a blueprint for their own struggle for voting rights, fair housing, and employment equality.
Intrigued, Jones immersed himself in research, conducting interviews with individuals who had participated in historic marches and protests on both sides of the Atlantic. He spoke with those who had been present at events like Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland and the Selma-to-Montgomery marches in Alabama. The extensive interview process—along with transcribing and verifying stories—was time-consuming but rewarding.
Jones hopes readers will come away from “Good Trouble” with a deeper understanding of the global nature of civil rights struggles. “There are so many things that connect all of us in the world,” he said. “The Catholics of Northern Ireland and African Americans in the U.S. were using the same tactics—marching, peaceful protesting—fighting for the same basic human rights.”
His personal connection to the subject runs even deeper. Jones was able to include firsthand accounts from his parents, both of whom were involved in the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S. His mother attended the 1963 March on Washington, and both parents participated in protests to integrate theaters and lunch counters in Salisbury, North Carolina. “To be able to put their story in the book was a huge thrill,” Jones said.
With the book set for release on April 1, Jones is now focused on promotion, including appearances at author festivals in Washington, D.C., and Selma for the 60th anniversary of the historic marches. He hasn’t yet planned his next writing project but is fully dedicated to sharing “Good Trouble” with as many readers as possible.
The book is available for pre-order, and Jones is eager for readers to discover the powerful parallels between these two movements that fought for justice, thousands of miles apart but united in their purpose. The book can be found here: https://www.amazon.com/Good-Trouble-Northern-Connection-1963-1972/dp/1839994622?fbclid=IwY2xjawIYYCRleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHXH8ESqZiMm1Ott9tcQTyOmAPnaTrnM08cG1FhJYn30Y6_4s3gSTDhpmAQ_aem_8NwgBHIkYqclS50CQCNVTg
Courtesy photos
