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History and Current Events March 2019
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| Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Isaac Woodard and the Awakening of... by Richard GergelWhat it's about: On February 12, l1946, African American veteran Isaac Woodard was beaten and permanently blinded by Batesburg, South Carolina police chief Lynwood Shull after a dispute with a bus driver.
What happened next: President Truman established the President's Committee on Civil Rights, which led to the desegregation of the U.S. armed services in 1948. After Shull was acquitted, Judge J. Waties Waring, who had presided over the case, dedicated the rest of his career to fighting racial injustice. |
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| Underground: A Human History of the Worlds Beneath Our Feet by Will HuntWhat it is: a brisk, panoramic exploration of the history, science, and mythology of subterranean spaces, written by a self-proclaimed urban explorer and underworld enthusiast.
Featuring: Paris catacombs, Australian ochre mines, New York City subway tunnels, and Turkish underground cities.
For fans of: unique and offbeat travelogues. |
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| The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee: Native America from 1890 to the Present by David TreuerWhat it is: a vivid 125-year history of Native America that details the ways that tribes have survived -- and thrived -- in the face of adversity.
About the author: David Treuer is an Ojibwe novelist and historian who grew up on Minnesota's Leech Lake Indian Reservation.
Reviewers say: "A welcome modern rejoinder to classics such as God is Red and Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee" (Kirkus Reviews). |
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| Camelot's End: Kennedy vs. Carter and the Fight That Broke the Democratic Party by Jon WardWhat it is: a captivating account of the 1980 Democratic primary battle between sitting president Jimmy Carter and Senator Ted Kennedy.
Did you know? Incumbent presidents seeking reelection have been challenged from within their own party "only a handful of times."
Why it's significant: Campaign tensions led to divisions within the Democratic party that continue to resonate. |
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Forgotten & Untold Histories
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1916: A Global History
by Keith Jeffery
While most histories of World War I focus on the conflict in Western Europe, historian Keith Jeffery analyzes the war's far-reaching impact in other regions. In 1916, he looks at a dozen of the year's major events (such as the Easter Uprising in Ireland, Russian internal politics, and the East African campaign) and their significance for the world's future. Jeffery also brings to life the experiences of women, civilians, African soldiers and laborers, and other under-represented groups, while emphasizing social commonalities around the world. Library Journal says that Jeffery employs a "creative and remarkable approach to history" in this richly detailed work.
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| Here is Where: Discovering America's Great Forgotten History by Andrew CarrollWhat it is: a rollicking coast-to-coast adventure exploring 50 overlooked historical sites.
Why you might like it: This concise page-turner offers plenty of surprising twists and a guide whose enthusiasm is infectious.
Fascinating finds: the New Jersey railroad stop where John Wilkes Booth's brother saved Abraham Lincoln's son from an accident; a sunken ship in the Mississippi River with a higher death toll than the Titanic. |
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| The Bone and Sinew of the Land: America's Forgotten Black Pioneers & the Struggle for... by Anna-Lisa CoxWho it's about: the 19th-century black pioneers who established over 300 settlements in the Northwest Territory.
Featuring: Keziah and Charles Grier, who bought their own land in 1818 and became Underground Railroad conductors a few years later.
Book buzz: The Bone and Sinew of the Land was named one of Smithsonian's Best History Books of 2018; Booklist calls it "a moving and necessary corrective to American pioneer history." |
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"They Can't Kill Us All": Ferguson, Baltimore, and a New Era in America's Racial Justice...
by Wesley Lowery
In "They Can't Kill Us All", Washington Post reporter Wesley Lowery chronicles his odyssey reporting from U.S. cities where officers have killed unarmed black men, beginning with Ferguson, MO. Depicting family members, protesters, and activist leaders, he sheds light on the experiences and responses of individuals in each situation. The development of the #BlackLivesMatter movement also comes to life in this unbiased report, which draws on data collection and a clear understanding of the dangers facing police officers, in addition to historical perspectives on black-white community relations over a half-century. Library Journal highly recommends this narrative "for those seeking additional clarity" on the subject.
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| Washington's Immortals: The Untold Story of an Elite Regiment Who Changed the Course... by Patrick K. O'DonnellWhat it's about: the "Immortal 400" Maryland regiment that delayed the British during 1776's Battle of Brooklyn, enabling General Washington's successful evacuation of the Continental Army.
Why it matters: The Immortals' actions shaped the outcome of the Revolutionary War, but at great cost -- 256 perished during the battle.
For fans of: Band of Brothers and Frank Miller's 300. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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