spiffysarahruby's review against another edition
5.0
This is beautiful and inspirational. I love it so much!
abauer's review against another edition
5.0
"A golden celebration of the multicultural voices who demand the U.S.—and the world—do better." —Kirkus
Honestly, that sums it up pretty well. Chances are you'll recognize bits and pieces of these speeches, but there's definitely value in reading them in their entirety and learning the historical context. They are all the more powerful for it and serve as a call to action even today. I also appreciated the layout, illustrations, and overall aesthetics of the book. Check it out!
Honestly, that sums it up pretty well. Chances are you'll recognize bits and pieces of these speeches, but there's definitely value in reading them in their entirety and learning the historical context. They are all the more powerful for it and serve as a call to action even today. I also appreciated the layout, illustrations, and overall aesthetics of the book. Check it out!
panda_incognito's review against another edition
4.0
This book presents transcripts or excerpts from fifteen different significant speeches in American history. It includes well-known speeches from monumental figures like Patrick Henry, Washington, Lincoln, and MLK, but also includes lesser-known speeches from people like Sojourner Truth, Langston Hughes, and Fannie Lou Hamer. I appreciate the diversity and range of coverage, since the author included marginalized voices without dismissing classic white American speeches that kids need to know about. The editor's selections are very balanced, and she provides detailed, accurate historical context for each of the speeches, even mentioning in some cases that there were a few different drafts of the speech and that she had chosen the one which was considered the most authoritative.
This is a great way for kids to learn about significant figures in history and the words that they spoke, and it is especially valuable because it gives insight into their own thoughts and words, rather than just summarizing their legacy. One of the most striking elements for me is how often the speakers drew from biblical ideas and references, and how often they centered their ideas about America and freedom based on their views about God. This isn't remotely surprising to me, since I am familiar with a deep and broad sense of American history, but since most books for children only present excerpted quotations and ignore or sideline religious views, I definitely noticed the difference here. Common attempts to be secular ultimately devalue historical figures and give children a very skewed view of the past, so I appreciate the priority that this book places on the spoken words, full context, and intent of each of these speakers.
This is a great way for kids to learn about significant figures in history and the words that they spoke, and it is especially valuable because it gives insight into their own thoughts and words, rather than just summarizing their legacy. One of the most striking elements for me is how often the speakers drew from biblical ideas and references, and how often they centered their ideas about America and freedom based on their views about God. This isn't remotely surprising to me, since I am familiar with a deep and broad sense of American history, but since most books for children only present excerpted quotations and ignore or sideline religious views, I definitely noticed the difference here. Common attempts to be secular ultimately devalue historical figures and give children a very skewed view of the past, so I appreciate the priority that this book places on the spoken words, full context, and intent of each of these speakers.
davidbythebay's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
These are a number of famous or should be famous speeches from Americans from our founding to the present. There are plenty more that should be known beyond this; however, this is a great smattering of classic speeches that have had an impact on America and the world. What is best about these speeches is the little preamble before each one, providing context and a general theme for the following speech. It was a nice collection and well done.
ok_katiebug's review against another edition
4.0
A decent mix of speeches from American History - I liked the background given before each excerpt.
hopejrc's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed the way this is put together. With each speech there is an introduction to the speech that gives the historical context of the speech. I thought that worked really well to help understand the speech on a deeper level, especially those speeches that we quote mindlessly. Langston Hughes speech was my favorite. I got choked up at the end of that one.
erine's review against another edition
4.0
A really lovely example of how history can inform our present. Each of these speeches - both the known and the unknown to me - very strongly resonated with the current moment. They are inspiring reminders that even when we haven't lived up to our ideals as a country, there is always room to continue struggling and striving for a better country, a better world. The introductions from Tonya Bolden offer context and historical notes for each speech. The illustrations from Eric Velasquez bring the speakers to life.
Brief highlights
Patrick Henry, Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death:
"These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission?"
George Washington, Farewell Address:
"The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize."
Red Jacket, We Never Quarrel About Religion:
"Brother, we do not wish to destroy your religion, or take it from you; we only want to enjoy our own."
Frederick Douglass, What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?:
"I remember, also, that, as a people, Americans are remarkably familiar with all facts which make in their own favor."
Sojourner Truth, I Am a Woman's Rights:
"But man is in a tight place, the poor slave is on him, woman is coming on him, and he is surely between a hawk and a buzzard."
Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address:
"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced."
Theodore Roosevelt, Citizenship in a Republic:
"There are many men who feel a kind of twisted pride in cynicism; there are many who confine themselves to criticism of the way others do what they themselves dare not even attempt."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, The Only Thing We Have to Fear...
"This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today."
Lou Gehrig, Farewell to Baseball:
"So, I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for."
Langston Hughes, On the Blacklist all our Lives:
"Do you know that there are libraries in our country that will not stock a book by a Negro writer, not even as a gift?... Censorship for us begins at the color line."
JFK, We Choose to Go to the Moon:
"We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people."
MLK Jr., I Have a Dream:
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"
Fannie Lou Hamer, I Question America:
"Is this America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, where we have to sleep with our telephones off the hooks because our lives be threatened daily, because we want to live as decent human beings, in America?"
Cesar Chavez, Address to the Commonwealth Club of CA:
"You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore."
Hilary Rodham Clinton, Women's Rights are Human Rights:
"What we are learning around the world is that if women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish. If wemen are free from violence, their families will flourish. If women have a chance work work and earn as full and equal partners in society, their families will flourish. And when families flourish, communities and nations do as well."
Brief highlights
Patrick Henry, Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death:
"These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission?"
George Washington, Farewell Address:
"The unity of government which constitutes you one people is also now dear to you. It is justly so, for it is a main pillar in the edifice of your real independence, the support of your tranquility at home, your peace abroad; of your safety; of your prosperity; of that very liberty which you so highly prize."
Red Jacket, We Never Quarrel About Religion:
"Brother, we do not wish to destroy your religion, or take it from you; we only want to enjoy our own."
Frederick Douglass, What to the Slave is the Fourth of July?:
"I remember, also, that, as a people, Americans are remarkably familiar with all facts which make in their own favor."
Sojourner Truth, I Am a Woman's Rights:
"But man is in a tight place, the poor slave is on him, woman is coming on him, and he is surely between a hawk and a buzzard."
Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address:
"It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced."
Theodore Roosevelt, Citizenship in a Republic:
"There are many men who feel a kind of twisted pride in cynicism; there are many who confine themselves to criticism of the way others do what they themselves dare not even attempt."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt, The Only Thing We Have to Fear...
"This is preeminently the time to speak the truth, the whole truth, frankly and boldly. Nor need we shrink from honestly facing conditions in our country today."
Lou Gehrig, Farewell to Baseball:
"So, I close in saying that I might have been given a bad break, but I've got an awful lot to live for."
Langston Hughes, On the Blacklist all our Lives:
"Do you know that there are libraries in our country that will not stock a book by a Negro writer, not even as a gift?... Censorship for us begins at the color line."
JFK, We Choose to Go to the Moon:
"We set sail on this new sea because there is new knowledge to be gained, and new rights to be won, and they must be won and used for the progress of all people."
MLK Jr., I Have a Dream:
"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.'"
Fannie Lou Hamer, I Question America:
"Is this America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, where we have to sleep with our telephones off the hooks because our lives be threatened daily, because we want to live as decent human beings, in America?"
Cesar Chavez, Address to the Commonwealth Club of CA:
"You cannot uneducate the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore."
Hilary Rodham Clinton, Women's Rights are Human Rights:
"What we are learning around the world is that if women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish. If wemen are free from violence, their families will flourish. If women have a chance work work and earn as full and equal partners in society, their families will flourish. And when families flourish, communities and nations do as well."
thebrookelist's review against another edition
5.0
Nice collection in an accessible way - good intros to the people and speech lengths not too burdensome.