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School Library Journal Review
Gr 6 Up-Overviews of the history and current status of civil rights of various racial, ethnic, and other groups in the U.S. The Almanac examines discriminatory laws and practices past and present, social movements, and legislation. The first volume covers the civil rights of African and Asian Americans, while the second volume covers Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, and selected immigrant and nonethnic groups (women, lesbians and gay men, and people with disabilities). Biographies profiles 23 men and women from different backgrounds who have promoted the cause of civil rights. Primary Sources features 19 excerpted documents (articles, autobiographical essays, declarations, government documents, poems, and speeches) organized into thematic sections: "Desegregation," "Economic Rights," and "Human Rights." Each volume includes captioned black-and-white photographs; sidebars highlighting related events, issues, or documents; cross-references; bibliographies; and Web sites. Additional explanatory notes often appear in the wide margins. Bold headings and subheadings facilitate use. The uniqueness of this set lies in the range of people covered. Students will find it an excellent resource for reports and interesting reading.-Dana McDougald, Cedar Shoals High School, Athens, GA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
More than 200 years after the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, guaranteeing freedoms in America continues to be an ongoing process. With this in mind, UXL has published a set for the middle-school level, examining the dramatic impact of the civil rights movement. American Civil Rights: Almanac consists of two volumes, broken down into six chapters. Volume one focuses on the history and current status of African Americans and Asian Americans; volume two covers Hispanic Americans, Native Americans, "Selected Immigrant Groups," and "Selected Nonethnic Groups" (women, gay men, lesbians, and disabled persons). The format of both volumes is identical. Following an introduction, a time line chronicles major events from the first signing of U.S. government and Native American treaties in 1778 to the April 20, 1999, award of the Congressional Gold Medal to Rosa Parks. Lengthy narratives for each group are broken down into smaller topics. Sidebars provide supplemental information on historical legislation, events, people, and issues. Black-and-white photographs and illustrations and a glossary of pertinent terms (repeated in all four volumes) further enrich the set. Suggested research and activity ideas encourage interdisciplinary projects. American Civil Rights: Biographies contains biographies of 23 people who worked to make equality a reality, including Susan B. Anthony, Cesar Chavez, Malcolm X, and Leonard Peltier. Each entry profiles life and career, highlighting significant contributions. A time line from 1826 to 1999; sidebars featuring related people, events, issues, and documents; cross-references; lists of print and nonprint resources; and black-and-white photographs and illustrations provide added value. American Civil Rights: Primary Sources contains excerpts from 19 documents in three thematic chapters: "Desegregation," "Economic Rights," and "Human Rights." These powerful histories in the form of speeches, statements, essays, memoirs, and poems provide insight into ordinary people whose actions affected the advancement of civil rights. Examples include Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech; the proclamation of the Delano grape workers for International Boycott Day, May 10, 1969; and the National American Woman Suffrage Association's "Women Should Have the Right to Vote." Accompanying each document are related information about the relevant period of time, noteworthy or unusual background facts, and a description of the consequences. The time line covers key events from 1881 to 1999. These volumes, sold individually or as a set ($127, 0-7876-3169-8; although there is no set index), are an impressive testimonial to the reality that people working together can change history. They would be an excellent addition to public and middle-and high-school library collections.
