Racism — Mari Bolte

The United States of America is a complex nation. At various times in its nearly 250-year history, the country’s citizens have endured racism, poverty, and gun violence. They’ve been split apart and brought together by politics, news media, and ideas about what constitutes a basic human right. In this nonfiction series, early high schoolers will learn the history behind many social studies hot topics, including immigration, voting rights, and LGBTQ+ discrimination; how and why we continue to struggle today; and what’s being done to improve those challenging aspects of living in America. Each title includes real-life profiles of people who are living the featured topic, factual sidebars, a glossary, and an index.   The topic of racism is a divisive one for Americans, especially as stories of racial profiling, police brutality, and discrimination increase and go viral every day. This nonfiction social studies title for young adults examines the history, power, and effects of racism in the United States, focusing on Indigenous and American Indian segregation, Chinese exclusion, Hispanic and Muslim prejudice, and the legacy of slavery within the Black community. It explores anti-minority laws and bias, cultural appropriation, 14th Amendment cases, and rights inequalities. Includes sidebars, a glossary, a timeline, and profiles of George Floyd and writer Ta-Nehisi Coates.