A review by panda_incognito
Strong Voices: Fifteen American Speeches Worth Knowing by Tonya Bolden, Cokie Roberts
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.