A Place at the Table: Struggles for Equality in America - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0195150368 ISBN 13: 9780195150360

Publisher: Oxford University Press / The Southern Poverty Law Center, 2002

Synopsis

Inspiring and true, A Place at the Table chronicles the lives of American freedom fighters whose stories are little-known, but whose efforts have paved the way for equality and justice in the face of extreme prejudice. Unsung heroes and their brave deeds, such as house slave Elizabeth Freeman's momentous court battle winning her freedom, suffragette Sara Bard Field's cross-country journey for women's rights, and Nisqually Indian Billy Frank Jr.'s fight for Native American land rights, toppled barriers in education, voting, employment, housing, and other areas of discrimination. A rousing history of American champions of justice, A Place at the Table is filled with men and women who, when told by society to "stay in their place," insisted that "their place" was at the American table as full-fledged participants in democracy.

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Reviews

Grade 7 Up-After reading this collection of 12 essays, one begins to wonder why it is that in a country dedicated to freedom and equal rights for all, so many of our citizens have been marginalized. Many people believe that religious tolerance was a part of our early heritage; but what of the Baptists who were imprisoned in the 1700s for preaching their beliefs? Rosa Parks is now a household name, but how many students know about Elizabeth Jennings? A full century before Parks, Jennings sued and won a case after she defied a conductor, boarded a "whites-only" trolley car, and was forcibly evicted. The Trail of Tears is well known, but what of the Ponca tribe, divided by government cruelty? From ethnic persecution (including Asian, Mexican-American) to rights for gays, lesbians, and the disabled, this compilation includes lesser-known, often unsung heroes and heroines who fought for their rights. Funded by the Teaching Tolerance project, this volume is part of a larger packet of materials aimed at teaching students respect for others. Well illustrated with original photos and reproductions of documents that reinforce the powerful message of the text, A Place at the Table is a must-read for classes studying American history, government, politics, or law. It is also a valuable addition for schools and libraries looking to add multicultural materials to their collections.
Laurie Edwards, West Shore School District, Camp Hill, PA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Gr. 7-12. Fleming writes that our nation's challenge is to ensure that the ideals celebrated in our founding documents are "more than just promises on paper." This excellent resource profiles Americans who have struggled for those ideals, beginning with Colonialists who fought for religious liberty. Most of the subjects are lesser-known, such as the Louisville, Kentucky, protestors whose nonviolent strike against segregated transportation preceded the 1960s Civil Rights movement by 100 years. Other stories focus on young labor strikers, suffragettes, and advocates for rights for Native Americans, gays, and the handicapped. The accessible, anecdotal text gives plenty of historical context for each subject. It's unfortunate that a list of further reading is the book's only documentation, but boxes with primary documents and additional profiles, as well as plenty of photos, enhance this rich compendium that is sure to breathe new life into reports and inspire independent reading. Gillian Engberg
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press / The Southern Poverty Law Center
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0195150368
• ISBN 13: 9780195150360
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 152
• Editor: Fleming Maria