5 Outstanding Books about Social Justice in the US

YOU ARE READING: 5 Outstanding Books about Social Justice in the US | Human Rights Careers AT PhebinhvanhocEN

The United States may be called the “land of the free and home of the brave,” but there are injustices in every facet of society. It seems that locally and globally we are even more divided in recent years, though that may be because long-buried beliefs are finally surfacing for all to see. the concept of “social justice” encompasses myriad topics, including racism and discrimination, health care, gender, sexuality, the economy, and more. it is challenging to present a comprehensive definition, but for the sake of conciseness, social justice is essentially equality and justice that exists beyond a legal system. here are five books everyone interested in social justice should read:

visit bookstore

You are reading: Books about social justice issues

the story of a town in the united states by howard zinn

Originally published in 1980, this book is now considered a classic. The Story of a People examines the history of the United States from the time of Columbus to President Clinton’s first term through the perspective of groups overlooked in classrooms: women, African Americans, Native Americans, immigrants, and others. . Zinn correctly shows how many of America’s greatest victories, such as women’s right to vote, fair wages, and the 8-hour workday, came about because of the persistence of these undermined populations. In case you’re worried it’s out of date, it’s been revised frequently over the years.

freedom is a constant struggle: ferguson, palestine and the foundations of a movement by angela y. davis

This book may be short, but don’t be fooled: it’s packed with essential insights from a champion of social justice causes. In this collection of essays, Davis explores the intersection of black feminism, prison abolitionism, and more through a historical perspective and analysis of current injustices found in places like Ferguson, Missouri, and Palestine. Davis is no stranger to fighting; Since the 1960s, he has been fighting the good fight, so his words ring true, loud and clear.

bad feminist by roxane gay

Roxane Gay’s collection of essays demonstrates that both seriousness and humor have a place in the social justice movement. Her crisp writing tackles everything from her love of the color pink to women who love Chris Brown. what does the title mean? In a 2014 interview with Time, Gay explained that each essay strives to show how feminism influences her life “for better or worse.” one of the key points of the collection is that, like humanity, feminism is flawed. gay, with her honesty and insight, is one of the most important voices of this generation. Her other posts include Hungry: A Memoir of My Body and Difficult Women.

Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemptionby bryan stevenson

This nonfiction book reads like a narrative, and that’s really what it is: a true and important story. As a young lawyer running the Equal Justice Initiative, Stevenson found himself taking on the case of Water McMillian, a man on death row for a crime he says he did not commit. Just Mercy tells the story of Stevenson working through legal politics and being personally transformed by the Walter case. For anyone interested in prisoner rights and the inner workings of the prison-industrial complex, this is a must-read. Published in 2014, the book won a host of awards, including the Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction. It is currently being adapted into a movie starring Michael B. Jordan as Stevenson.

The Other Side of Liberty: The Case for Hopeby deray mckesson

activist deray mckesson’s book begins in 2014, when the 29-year-old protested with hundreds on the streets of ferguson. This started a fire that led to the creation of the Black Lives Matter movement. McKesson, a leader of the group, uses the pages of his book to outline the structure of a new liberation movement. he also explains why large-scale organization and action is so important, as well as new elements of protest, such as technology. the case for hope is both a cry for inspiration and a practical guide, which are things that this time in history needs.