I liked this book and the way the authors centered the stories of individuals to talk about the history of Black experiences in the USA and the ways those experiences are at the heart of the history of America.

TWs: racism, police brutality, mentions of slavery, racial inequality

Books like Unequal are so incredibly important, perhaps now more than ever. I was born and raised in Texas, and thus am a product of the Texas public school system. Though it's been 15 years since I graduated from high school, I can say with a high certainty that a lot of what is in this book (events predating 2007) was not taught to me in a Texas school. As an adult, I have had to seek out books like Unequal that depicts US History in a truthful light, even when it's not pretty.

Looking at the distribution of ratings and the reviews that have been posted so far on Goodreads, I believe it's a fair assumption that those who rated the book 1 star did so without reading the book, and are in the "This is CRT!" crowd.

This book is uncomfortable at times. It's not pleasant to read about systemic racism. It forces us to confront issues that we may be willingly or ignorantly unaware of. But it's so important to learn, because how else can we make things better?


#BlackLivesMatter

UNEQUAL by Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau is subtitled "A Story of America" and it deals with racial injustice through the stories of over two dozen individuals. Dyson, a Georgetown University sociology professor and award-winning author, and Favreau, who has also written several commended books, have collaborated to produce a text which is geared to teens. Our students will recognize many of the people and actions which are profiled; examples include Ida B. Wells, Michelle Alexander (The New Jim Crow), and Malcolm X. And, I have a student working on a project about John Carlos and Tommie Smith right now. Other names (Susan Moore, Catherine Flowers, Fannie Lou Hamer) may be less familiar, but several students have been researching discrimination in health care, environmental racism, and voting rights which are all issues addressed in this informative text. Each section begins with a short vignette and photo, followed by a more in-depth review of resistance to inequality. Sadly, Dyson and Favreau felt it necessary to begin by saying, "This is a book of truth. So we'll start by telling you the stone-cold fact that there are many people who do not want you to read it. ... Some will undoubtedly try to ban this book." That does seem to be a pattern in the early online reader reviews even though UNEQUAL received starred reviews from both Kirkus and Publishers Weekly. It contains an impressive list of other suggested readings and source notes and will soon be available for our student researchers and their teachers.

#netgalleyarc This was a great and important read. Black history IS our country’s history and its important to learn all sides of our history. This reminded me a bit of Stamped but not as overwhelming. I will definitely be purchasing this for my library.

This book should absolutely be taught in schools and be given prominent placement libraries. The amount of Black history <i>not</i> taught in schools is atrocious and I think this book could play an instrumental role in educating everyone--not just students--about lesser known historical figures and events that should be common knowledge.

Written in a way that kids can understand, Unequal breaks down historical and present-day issues in America to teach kids about the inequalities that have persisted for centuries in America. Even as an adult, I learned more about the Tulsa Massacre in this book than I've read in any other book before. While this book tackles complex subjects, the authors' writing style simplifies the topics in a way that upper-elementary and middle-grade readers can easily understand.

This powerful book discusses racism's implications on college admissions, FHA loan discrimination, integration of schools, voter suppression, environmental racism, and more. Kids and teens will be able to relate to many of the chapters, such as the chapter about the Central Park Five, because the book often talks about inequality to other kids and teens. Sadly, ongoing racism means this book won't make it to every school library, but I will definitely buy a copy for my daughter.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.