Literary theme analysis, by a book like {foo}
Books about Civil Rights
March: Book One
by John Lewis
A firsthand account of the civil rights movement in America, and its impact on history.
On March 7, 1965, John Lewis, a young man, stands on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama with fellow civil rights activists during the Selma to Montgomery marches on "Bloody Sunday". They are ... (Wikipedia)
Little Brother
by Cory Doctorow
A teen tech genius fights against a dystopian government by using his skills to create a revolution.
Marcus Yallow is a 17-year-old hacker /techno whiz from San Francisco . One day Marcus and his best friend Darryl play truant from school to play an Alternate Reality Game . A terrorist attack is ... (Wikipedia)
The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.
by Martin Luther King Jr.
A vivid account of MLK Jr.'s life, detailing his experiences in the civil rights movement.
This definitive box set includes all the landmark speeches of the great orator and American leader Martin Luther King, Jr., from his inspirational "I Have a Dream" to his firey "Give Us the Ballot." ... (Goodreads)
Underground Airlines
by Ben H. Winters
In a modern-day America where slavery still exists, a black bounty hunter is tasked with capturing escaped slaves.
The novel is narrated by Victor, a former Person Bound to Labor ('peeb') who, after escaping the Hard Four, has been forced to work as an undercover agent for U.S. Marshal Bridge, infiltrating and ... (Wikipedia)
A People's History of the United States
by Howard Zinn
An examination of American history from a perspective of marginalized people.
In the book, Zinn presented a different side of history from the more traditional "fundamental nationalist glorification of country". Zinn portrays a side of American history that can largely be seen ... (Goodreads)
The Underground Railroad
by Colson Whitehead
An escaped slave's daring escape to freedom, fighting against the brutality of slavery.
The story is told in the third person, focusing mainly on Cora. Scattered single chapters also focus on Cora's mother Mabel, the slavecatcher Ridgeway, a reluctant slave sympathizer named Ethel, and ... (Wikipedia)
The Help
by Kathryn Stockett
A group of African-American maids in 1960s Mississippi challenge the racial and social norms of the time.
The Help is set in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi , and told primarily from the first-person perspectives of three women: Aibileen Clark, Minny Jackson, and Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan. ... (Wikipedia)
We Were Eight Years in Power: An American Tragedy
by Ta-Nehisi Coates
An exploration of the Obama years, and the racial injustices that still plague America.
"We were eight years in power" was the lament of Reconstruction-era black politicians as the American experiment in multiracial democracy ended with the return of white supremacist rule in the South. ... (Goodreads)
Race Matters
by Cornel West
A critique of the structures of racism and prejudice in society and how they shape our lives.
In this essay collection, many of which have previously appeared in journals, West, the director of Afro-American studies at Princeton & author of several books, addresses a number of issues of ... (Goodreads)
Letter from the Birmingham Jail
by Martin Luther King Jr.
A powerful letter written by Martin Luther King Jr. while he was imprisoned, advocating for nonviolent resistance against racism and injustice.
There is an alternate edition published under, ISBN13: 9780241339466,. Martin Luther King, Jr. rarely had time to answer his critics. But on April 16, 1963, he was confined to the Birmingham jail, ... (Goodreads)
The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
by Michelle Alexander
Exploring the roots and reality of systemic racism in the U.S. criminal justice system.
"Jarvious Cotton's great-great-grandfather could not vote as a slave. His great-grandfather was beaten to death by the Klu Klux Klan for attempting to vote. His grandfather was prevented from voting ... (Goodreads)
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano
by Olaudah Equiano
Autobiography of an African man detailing his capture, enslavement and eventual freedom.
Widely admired for its vivid accounts of the slave trade, Olaudah Equiano's autobiography – the first slave narrative to attract a significant readership -- reveals many aspects of the ... (Goodreads)
The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America
by Richard Rothstein
Examination of the US government's role in creating and enforcing racial segregation in housing.
In this groundbreaking history of the modern American metropolis, Richard Rothstein, a leading authority on housing policy, explodes the myth that America’s cities came to be racially divided through ... (Goodreads)
The Plot Against America
by Philip Roth
An alternate history of America, where a fascist president rises to power.
The novel is told from the point of view of Roth as a child growing up in Newark, New Jersey , as the younger son of Herman and Bess Roth. It begins with aviation hero Charles Lindbergh , who is ... (Wikipedia)
Al Franken, Giant of the Senate
by Al Franken
A comedic memoir about Franken's unlikely journey from Saturday Night Live to the US Senate.
From Senator Al Franken - #1 bestselling author and beloved, SNL, alum - comes the story of an award-winning comedian who decided to run for office and then discovered why award-winning comedians ... (Goodreads)
Long Walk to Freedom
by Nelson Mandela
A remarkable story of courage, perseverance and hope in the face of oppression.
Nelson Mandela is one of the great moral and political leaders of our time: an international hero whose lifelong dedication to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa won him the Nobel ... (Goodreads)
March
by Geraldine Brooks
A story of courage and resilience during the Civil War, through the eyes of a father.
Winner of the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. From the author of the acclaimed Year of Wonders , a historical novel and love story set during a time of catastrophe, on the front lines of the ... (Goodreads)
The Front Runner
by Patricia Nell Warren
A love story between a coach and his athlete, challenged by societal norms and prejudices.
First published in 1974, The Front Runner raced to international acclaim - the first novel about gay love to become popular with mainstream. In 1975, coach Harlan Brown is hiding from his past at an ... (Goodreads)
Assata: An Autobiography
by Assata Shakur
A powerful memoir of her struggles and triumphs in the face of racism and oppression.
On May 2, 1973, Black Panther Assata Shakur (aka JoAnne Chesimard) lay in a hospital, close to death, handcuffed to her bed, while local, state, and federal police attempted to question her about the ... (Goodreads)
The Fire Next Time
by James Baldwin
Reflection on the plight of African Americans in a candid and deeply moving essay.
A national bestseller when it first appeared in 1963, The Fire Next Time galvanized the nation and gave passionate voice to the emerging civil rights movement. At once a powerful evocation of James ... (Goodreads)
March: Book Three
by John Lewis
The civil rights movement recounted through the eyes of Congressman Lewis and other activists.
Welcome to the stunning conclusion of the award-winning and best-selling MARCH trilogy. Congressman John Lewis, an American icon and one of the key figures of the civil rights movement, joins ... (Barnes & Noble)
No Place to Hide: Edward Snowden, the NSA, and the U.S. Surveillance State
by Glenn Greenwald
Exposé of the US government's massive surveillance system, detailing the dangers of pervasive state power.
By Glenn Greenwald, star of, Citizenfour, the Academy Award-winning documentary on Edward Snowden In May 2013, Glenn Greenwald set out for Hong Kong to meet an anonymous source who claimed to have ... (Goodreads)
Women, Race & Class
by Angela Y. Davis
Examining the intersections of women's liberation, civil rights, and class struggle in the United States.
From one of our most important scholars and civil rights activist icon, a powerful study of the women’s liberation movement and the tangled knot of oppression facing Black women.,"Angela Davis is ... (Goodreads)
Midnight Rising: John Brown and the Raid That Sparked the Civil War
by Tony Horwitz
A gripping account of John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry, and how it ignited the Civil War.
A, New York Times, Notable Book for 2011, A, Library Journal, Top Ten Best Books of 2011, A, Boston Globe, Best Nonfiction Book of 2011 Late on the night of October 16, 1859, John Brown launched a ... (Barnes & Noble)
March: Book Two
by John Lewis
An inspiring narrative of the civil rights movement, highlighting the courage and resilience of its participants.
Congressman John Lewis, an American icon and one of the key figures of the civil rights movement, continues his award-winning graphic novel trilogy with co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell, ... (Barnes & Noble)
Uncle Tom's Cabin
by Harriet Beecher Stowe
An anti-slavery novel exploring themes of morality, faith, and justice.
The book opens with a Kentucky farmer named Arthur Shelby facing the loss of his farm because of debts. Even though he and his wife Emily Shelby believe that they have a benevolent relationship with ... (Wikipedia)
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration
by Isabel Wilkerson
An exploration of the life-changing journeys of the millions of African-Americans who migrated from the South to the North, Midwest, and West from 1915 to 1970.
In this epic, beautifully written masterwork, Pulitzer Prize–winning author Isabel Wilkerson chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black ... (Goodreads)
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
by Mildred D. Taylor
A family's story of struggle and survival during the Great Depression in the segregated American South.
Nine-year-old Cassie Logan is walking to school with her siblings Stacey (twelve years old), Christopher-John (seven years old), and Little Man,(six years old), in rural Mississippi . Cassie talks ... (Wikipedia)
White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide
by Carol Anderson
Examination of systemic racism in the United States and its effects on African Americans.
From the Civil War to our combustible present,, White Rage r,eframes our continuing conversation about race, chronicling the powerful forces opposed to black progress in America–now in paperback with ... (Goodreads)
The Unwanteds
by Lisa McMann
In a dystopian society, children are divided into Wanted and Unwanted. The Unwanteds are sent to their deaths, but they discover a magical world.
When Alex finds out he is Unwanted, he expects to die. That is the way of the people of Quill. Each year, all the thirteen-year-olds are labeled as Wanted, Necessary, or Unwanted. Wanteds get more ... (Goodreads)
The Nine: Inside the Secret World of the Supreme Court
by Jeffrey Toobin
An exploration of the inner workings of the U.S. Supreme Court and its justices.
In The Nine, acclaimed journalist Jeffrey Toobin takes us into the chambers of the most important—and secret—legal body in our country, the Supreme Court, revealing the complex dynamic among the nine ... (Goodreads)
Notes of a Native Son
by James Baldwin
A collection of essays exploring the complexities of race, identity, and society in America through the lens of Baldwin's personal experiences.
Since its original publication in 1955, this first nonfiction collection of essays by James Baldwin remains an American classic. His impassioned essays on life in Harlem, the protest novel, movies, ... (Goodreads)
The Intuitionist
by Colson Whitehead
A lift inspector navigates a mysterious, ever-shifting city while solving a thrilling mystery.
The story begins with the catastrophic failure of an elevator which Watson had inspected just days before, leading to suspicion cast upon both herself and the Intuitionist school as a whole. To cope ... (Wikipedia)
Nixonland: The Rise of a President and the Fracturing of America
by Rick Perlstein
A detailed account of the political and cultural landscape of America during the Nixon era, exploring the roots of modern conservatism.
Politically insightful, Nixonland recaptures the turbulent 60s & early 70s, revealing how Dick Nixon rose from the political grave to seize & hold the presidency. Perlstein's account begins with the ... (Goodreads)
Black Boy
by Richard Wright
Autobiographical account of a young black man's struggle against racism and oppression.
A special 75th anniversary edition of Richard Wright's powerful and unforgettable memoir, with a new foreword by John Edgar Wideman and an afterword by Malcolm Wright, the author’s grandson. When it ... (Barnes & Noble)
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
by Bryan Stevenson
A powerful true story of justice and redemption, exposing the flaws of America's criminal justice system.
In 1989, idealistic young Harvard law graduate Bryan Stevenson travels to Alabama hoping to help fight for poor people who cannot afford proper legal representation. Teaming with Eva Ansley, he ... (Wikipedia)
A Fighting Chance
by Elizabeth Warren
Autobiographical account of the Senator's rise from a middle-class family to the halls of power.
An unlikely political star tells the inspiring story of the two-decade journey that taught her how Washington really works—and really doesn't—in A Fighting Chance As a child in small-town Oklahoma, ... (Goodreads)
Chains
by Laurie Halse Anderson
A young girl's mission to secure her and her sister's freedom from enslavement.
As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become ... (Goodreads)
Coming of Age in Mississippi: The Classic Autobiography of a Young Black Girl in the Rural South
by Anne Moody
A brave memoir of a young woman's strength and resilience growing up in the Jim Crow South.
Born to a poor couple who were tenant farmers on a plantation in Mississippi, Anne Moody lived through some of the most dangerous days of the pre-civil rights era in the South. The week before she ... (Goodreads)
Unraveled
by Courtney Milan
A historical romance novel about a woman seeking justice for her family, and the man who helps her unravel the truth.
Smite Turner is renowned for his single-minded devotion to his duty as a magistrate. But behind his relentless focus lies not only a determination to do what is right, but the haunting secrets of his ... (Goodreads)
America's First Daughter
by Stephanie Dray
The life of Thomas Jefferson's beloved daughter, and her struggle between duty and freedom.
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In a compelling, richly researched novel that draws from thousands of letters and original sources, bestselling authors Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie tell the ... (Barnes & Noble)
Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family's Fight for Desegregation
by Duncan Tonatiuh
The true story of Sylvia Mendez and her family's fight for desegregation in California schools in the 1940s.
Almost 10 years before Brown vs. Board of Education , Sylvia Mendez and her parents helped end school segregation in California. An American citizen of Mexican and Puerto Rican heritage who spoke and ... (Goodreads)
Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention
by Manning Marable
A biography exploring the life of Malcolm X, civil rights activist and leader.
Selected by, The New York Times Book Review, as a Notable Book of the Year Years in the making-the definitive biography of the legendary black activist. Of the great figure in twentieth-century ... (Goodreads)
Hellhound on His Trail: The Stalking of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the International Hunt for His Assassin
by Hampton Sides
An exploration of the investigation and manhunt for Dr. King’s assassin, James Earl Ray.
On April 23, 1967, Prisoner #416J, an inmate at the notorious Missouri State Penitentiary, escaped in a breadbox. Fashioning himself Eric Galt, this nondescript thief and con man—whose real name was ... (Goodreads)
In Good Faith
by Scott Pratt
A lawyer defends a man accused of murder, but soon realizes his client may not be as innocent as he seems.
A family of four is slaughtered in rural Tennessee. Two weeks later, a retired high school principal and his wife are brutally slain. Two Satan-worshipping teens stand accused. It’s up to prosecutor ... (Goodreads)
Darktown
by Thomas Mullen
Two black police officers in 1948 Atlanta investigate the murder of a young black woman, facing racism and corruption at every turn.
Darktown , set in 1940s Atlanta, follows the story of Lucius Boggs and Tommy Smith, two of Atlanta's first African-American police officers. The novel begins when Boggs and Smith are patrolling in a ... (Wikipedia)
Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America
by Gilbert King
A gripping story of racial injustice in the Jim Crow-era America and the fight for justice.
Devil in the Grove is the winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction. Arguably the most important American lawyer of the twentieth century, Thurgood Marshall was on the verge of ... (Goodreads)
Anarchism and Other Essays
by Emma Goldman
Collection of essays on anarchism, feminism, and social issues. Goldman advocates for individual freedom and social justice.
In the eighteen-nineties and for years thereafter, America reverberated with the name of the "notorious Anarchist," feminist, revolutionist and agitator, Emma Goldman. A Russian Jewish immigrant at ... (Goodreads)
Inherit the Wind
by Jerome Lawrence
A courtroom drama about a teacher accused of violating a law against teaching evolution.
A meaningful play based on the Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925, in which a Tennessee teacher was tried for teaching evolution. The accused was a slight, frightened man who'd deliberately broken the law. ... (Goodreads)
Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom
by Carole Boston Weatherford
A poetic retelling of Harriet Tubman's journey to freedom, leading others to freedom, and her faith in God.
I set the North Star in the heavens and I mean for you to be free.... Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman hears these words from God one summer night and decides to leave her husband and family behind ... (Goodreads)
Hidden Figures
by Margot Lee Shetterly
A recounting of the true story of three African-American women's contributions to NASA during the space race.
The uplifting, amazing true story—a New York Times bestseller This edition of Margot Lee Shetterly’s acclaimed book is perfect for young readers. It is the powerful story of four African-American ... (Goodreads)
The Souls of Black Folk
by W.E.B. Du Bois
An exploration of the African-American experience and the struggle for racial equality.
This landmark book is a founding work in the literature of black protest. W. E. B. Du Bois (1868–1963) played a key role in developing the strategy and program that dominated early 20th-century black ... (Goodreads)
Henry's Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad
by Ellen Levine
A slave's courageous escape to freedom via the Underground Railroad.
A stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom by a Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author and a Coretta Scott King Award-winning artist. Henry Brown doesn't know how old he is. ... (Barnes & Noble)
Rules for Radicals: A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals
by Saul D. Alinsky
A guidebook for community organizers, emphasizing the importance of power and tactics in achieving social change.
First published in 1971, Rules for Radicals is Saul Alinsky's impassioned counsel to young radicals on how to effect constructive social change and know “the difference between being a realistic ... (Goodreads)
Malcolm X Speaks: Selected Speeches and Statements
by Malcolm X
A collection of speeches and statements by Malcolm X, showcasing his powerful and controversial views on race, religion, and social justice.
These are the major speeches made by Malcolm X during the last tumultuous eight months of his life. In this short period of time, his vision for abolishing racial inequality in the United States ... (Goodreads)
Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy
by Gary D. Schmidt
A friendship between a black girl and a white boy in 1912 Maine is threatened by racism and greed.
This book is set in 1912. Turner Buckminster, the son of Reverend Buckminster (Preacher in Phippsburg, Maine at First Congregational), has just moved from Boston, Massachusetts to Phippsburg, Maine ... (Wikipedia)
Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
by Doreen Rappaport
Biography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., highlighting his powerful words & vision for a better future.
This picture book biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brings his life and the profound nature of his message to young children through his own words. Martin Luther King, Jr., was one of the most ... (Barnes & Noble)
Lies We Tell Ourselves
by Robin Talley
In 1959 Virginia, two girls from opposite sides of the civil rights battle must confront their own beliefs and prejudices.
In 1959 Virginia, the lives of two girls on opposite sides of the battle for civil rights will be changed forever. Sarah Dunbar is one of the first black students to attend the previously all-white ... (Goodreads)
UnDivided
by Neal Shusterman
A group of teens set off on a journey across a broken nation to restore freedom and justice.
Teens control the fate of America in the fourth and final book in the New York Times bestselling Unwind dystology by Neal Shusterman that Horn Book Magazine calls “ambitious, insightful, and ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Mis-Education of the Negro
by Carter G. Woodson
A critical analysis of the education system's failure to properly educate African Americans, leading to a perpetuation of inequality and oppression.
The Mis-Education of the Negro is one of the most important books on education ever written. Carter G. Woodson shows us the weakness of Euro-centric based curriculums that fail to include African ... (Goodreads)
Extras
by Scott Westerfeld
A young girl's fight to win a place in society, challenging the status quo.
A few years after rebel Tally Youngblood takes down the Specials regime, a cultural renaissance sweeps the world. “Tech-heads” flaunt their latest gadgets, “kickers” spread gossip and trends, and ... (Goodreads)
Warriors Don't Cry: A Searing Memoir of the Battle to Integrate Little Rock's Central High
by Melba Pattillo Beals
An autobiographical account of a young African American student's struggle to attend an all-white high school in 1957.
In this essential autobiographical account by one of the Civil Rights Movement’s most powerful figures, Melba Pattillo Beals of the Little Rock Nine explores not only the oppressive force of racism, ... (Goodreads)
The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York
by Robert A. Caro
Biography of Robert Moses, city planner and power broker who reshaped New York City.
One of the most acclaimed books of our time, winner of both the Pulitzer and the Francis Parkman prizes, The Power Broker tells the hidden story behind the shaping (and mis-shaping) of ... (Goodreads)
The Water is Wide
by Pat Conroy
A teacher's journey of helping disadvantaged children escape poverty and ignorance.
The island is nearly deserted, haunting, beautiful. Across a slip of ocean lies South Carolina. But for the handful of families on Yamacraw Island, America is a world away. For years the people here ... (Goodreads)
The Port Chicago 50: Disaster, Mutiny, and the Fight for Civil Rights
by Steve Sheinkin
The story of 50 African American sailors who were unfairly accused of mutiny after a deadly explosion during WWII.
An astonishing World War II military story of civil rights from, New York Times, bestselling author and Newbery Honor recipient Steve Sheinkin., A National Book Award Finalist,A YALSA Award for ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Social Contract
by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Exploration of the relationship between a government and its citizens, and the rights of individuals.
"Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains." These are the famous opening words of a treatise that has not ceased to stir vigorous debate since its first publication in 1762. Rejecting the ... (Goodreads)
Countdown
by Deborah Wiles
Set in the 1960s, a young girl navigates the Cuban Missile Crisis and her own family's struggles.
The story of a formative year in 12-year-old Franny Chapman's life, and the life of a nation facing the threat of nuclear war. Franny Chapman just wants some peace. But that's hard to get when her ... (Goodreads)
X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills
by Chris Claremont
The X-Men team up with Professor X to stop a religious extremist from inciting violence against mutants.
Magneto is investigating the murder of two mutant children who were killed by henchmen of the Reverend William Stryker . Stryker, who murdered his wife and newborn son after his son (a deformed ... (Wikipedia)
Through My Eyes
by Ruby Bridges
Ruby Bridges recounts her experience as the first African-American child to integrate an all-white elementary school in New Orleans in 1960.
In November 1960, all of America watched as a tiny six-year-old black girl, surrounded by federal marshals, walked through a mob of screaming segregationists and into her school. An icon of the civil ... (Barnes & Noble)
Towers Falling
by Jewell Parker Rhodes
A young girl learns about the events of 9/11 and how it affected her family and community.
From award-winning author Jewell Parker Rhodes comes a powerful novel set fifteen years after the 9/11 attacks in a classroom of students who cannot remember the event but live through the aftermath ... (Barnes & Noble)
Article 5
by Kristen Simmons
In a dystopian society, Ember and Chase fight for their love and freedom against a tyrannical government that enforces strict moral codes.
A war has torn through the United States, leading to the establishment of the Federal Bureau of Reformation (FBR) and a re-writing of the Bill of Rights , leaving the Moral Statues. The FBR have ... (Wikipedia)
An Autobiography
by Angela Y. Davis
Angela Y. Davis' life story, from growing up in Birmingham to becoming a political activist and scholar.
Her own powerful story to 1972, told with warmth, brilliance, humor & conviction. The author, a political activist, reflects upon the people & incidents that have influenced her life & commitment to ... (Goodreads)
The Lions of Little Rock
by Kristin Levine
A 12-year-old girl faces the racial tensions of 1958 Arkansas during the Little Rock Nine integration crisis.
Two girls separated by race form an unbreakable bond during the tumultuous integration of Little Rock schools in 1958 Twelve-year-old Marlee doesn't have many friends until she meets Liz, the new ... (Goodreads)
Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans
by Kadir Nelson
A beautifully illustrated history of African Americans in America, from slavery to the present day.
Kadir Nelson's Heart and Soul is the winner of numerous awards, including the 2012 Coretta Scott King Author Award and Illustrator Honor, and the recipient of five starred reviews. The story of ... (Goodreads)
Elijah of Buxton
by Christopher Paul Curtis
A young boy's adventures in a pre-Civil War free-town, learning the true meaning of freedom.
Newbery Medalist and CSK Award winner Christopher Paul Curtis's debut middle-grade/young-YA novel for Scholastic features his trademark humor, compelling storytelling, and unique narrative voice. ... (Goodreads)
October 1964
by David Halberstam
A detailed account of the 1964 US presidential election and the social and political climate of the time.
THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * THE BEST SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR October 1964 should be a hit with old-time baseball fans, who'll relish the opportunity to relive that year's to-die-for World Series, ... (Goodreads)
The Immortal Irishman: The Irish Revolutionary Who Became an American Hero
by Timothy Egan
The story of Thomas Francis Meagher, an Irish revolutionary who escaped exile to become a Civil War hero in America.
"An old-fashioned tale of tall talk, high ideals,and irresistible appeal . . . You will not read a historical thriller like this all year . . . [Egan] is a master storyteller." ,—Boston Globe, “Egan ... (Barnes & Noble)
The Story of Ruby Bridges
by Robert Coles
Ruby Bridges, a six-year-old African American girl, becomes the first to integrate an all-white school in New Orleans in 1960.
"Please, God, try to forgive those people. Because even if they say those bad things, They don't know what they're doing." This is the true story of an extraordinary 6-year-old who helped shape ... (Goodreads)
Up from Slavery
by Booker T. Washington
Autobiographical account of a former slave's journey to success and educational reform.
Booker T. Washington, the most recognized national leader, orator and educator, emerged from slavery in the deep south, to work for the betterment of African Americans in the post Reconstruction ... (Goodreads)
Why We Can't Wait
by Martin Luther King Jr.
A powerful account of the civil rights movement and the fight for racial equality in America, written by one of its most prominent leaders.
Dr. Martin Luther King’s classic exploration of the events and forces behind the Civil Rights Movement—including his Letter from Birmingham Jail, April 16, 1963. “There comes a time when the cup of ... (Goodreads)
Founding Mothers
by Cokie Roberts
Chronicles the lives of the women who helped shape America, from Abigail Adams to Martha Washington. A tribute to the unsung heroines of American history.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Cokie Roberts comes New York Times bestseller Founding Mothers, an intimate and illuminating look at the fervently patriotic and passionate women whose ... (Goodreads)
My Bondage and My Freedom
by Frederick Douglass
Autobiography of an escaped slave, detailing his journey to freedom and civil rights activism
Ex-slave Frederick Douglass's second autobiography-written after ten years of reflection following his legal emancipation in 1846 and his break with his mentor William Lloyd Garrison-catapulted ... (Goodreads)
A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin
by Jen Bryant
A biography of Horace Pippin, an African American artist who overcame adversity to create beautiful and inspiring paintings.
As a child in the late 1800s, Horace Pippin loved to draw: He loved the feel of the charcoal as it slid across the floor. He loved looking at something in the room and making it come alive again in ... (Goodreads)
Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice
by Phillip Hoose
The true story of Claudette Colvin, a young black girl who refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus, and her role in the civil rights movement.
"When it comes to justice, there is no easy way to get it. You can't sugarcoat it. You have to take a stand and say, 'This is not right.'" - Claudette Colvin On March 2, 1955, an impassioned ... (Barnes & Noble)
Proxy
by Alex London
In a dystopian society, a proxy takes the punishment for their patron's wrongdoings. Syd must fight for his freedom and survival.
The book is set in a distant post-cataclysmic future where civilization has evolved its technology so rapidly through unrestricted capitalism to bring about a world where nearly every conceivable ... (Wikipedia)
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