“This book is an effort to shed light on the truth. . . . To the extent that our leaders embody aspects of who we are as a people, studying how each president has participated in our nation’s complicated and often shameful treatment of black people is as good a place as any to start.” — Margaret Kimberley from the Preface "Margaret Kimberley gives us an intellectual gem of prophetic fire about all the U.S. presidents and their deep roots in the vicious legacy of white supremacy and predatory capitalism. Such truths seem more than most Americans can bear, though we ignore her words at our own peril!" — Cornel West, author of Race Matters PREJUDENTIAL is a concise, authoritative exploration of America’s relationship with race and black Americans through the lens of the presidents who have been elected to represent all of its people. Throughout the history of the United States, numerous presidents have left their legacies as slaveholders, bigots, and inciters of racial violence, but were the ones generally regarded as more sympathetic to the plight and interests of black Americans—such as Lincoln, FDR, and Clinton—really much better? And what of all the presidents whose relationship with black America is not even considered in the pages of most history books? Over the course of 45 chapters—one for each president—Margaret Kimberley enlightens and informs readers about the attitudes and actions of the highest elected official in the country. By casting sunlight on an aspect of American history that is largely overlooked, Prejudential aims to increase awareness in a manner that will facilitate discussion and understanding.

Prejudential: Black America and the Presidents (Truth to Power)

History

Kimberley, Margaret

Americas

Steerforth Press / Truth to Power

When the Bulbul Stopped Singing: Life in Palestine During an Israeli Siege (Truth to Power)

Biographies & Memoirs

Shehadeh, Raja.

Historical

War of Numbers: An Intelligence Memoir of the Vietnam War's Uncounted Enemy (Truth to Power)

Adams, Sam

Leaders & Notable People

Investigative reporting that has been thoroughly corroborated. The Book of Matt allows for an honest consideration of issues surrounding Matthew Shepard's murder, including: addiction, depression, classism, racism, media standards, and violence against members of the LGBTQI community. A new introduction by Andrew Sullivan; a new chapter - 'the ghost of Laramie' - with new stories and revelations, and a new Afterword that details additional post-publication.

The Book of Matt: The Real Story of the Murder of Matthew Shepard (Truth to Power)

Jimenez, Stephen

Written by a combat veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and a former professor of US history at West Point, his alma mater, this book grew out of the lectures Sjursen produced for the survey course he taught to cadets. Although he covers all of the major events, movements and figures in American history, Sjursen flips the lens, offering fresh insights and uncommon empathy. Written in vivid, engaging prose, A True History is accurate with respect to the facts and intellectually honest in its presentation and analysis.

A True History of the United States: Indigenous Genocide, Racialized Slavery, Hyper-Capitalism, Militarist Imperialism and Other Overlooked Aspects of American Exceptionalism (Truth to Power)

Sjursen, Daniel

Solemn Reverence vividly portrays both the history of the separation of church and state and the various attempts to undermine that wall of separation. Despite the fact that the First Amendment and the separation of church and state has served the nation remarkably well, Balmer shows that previous episodes and ongoing efforts indicate its future is by no means assured.

Solemn Reverence: The Separation of Church and State in American Life (Truth to Power)

Balmer, Randall

Had It Coming&nbsp;is not a diatribe or manifesto, but an informed look at how attitudes around sexual behavior have changed and still need to change. &nbsp; "As a culture we aren't very good at having nuanced, complicated discussions," Doolittle writes in her introduction. "The public space is not a safe venue to talk about controversial subjects. Social media has seen to that . . . I've come to embrace the complexities and messiness that comes with those tough conversations." Doolittle brings a personal voice to what has been a turning point for most women: the #MeToo movement and its aftermath. The world is now increasingly aware of the pervasiveness of rape culture in which powerful men got away with sexual assault and harassment for years, but Doolittle looks beyond specific cases to the big picture. The issue of "consent" figures largely: not only is the public confused about what it means, but an astounding number of legal authorities are too.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Had it Coming: Rape Culture Meets #MeToo: Now What? (Truth to Power)

Health, Fitness & Dieting

Doolittle, Robyn

Psychology & Counseling

Friendly Fire: How Israel Became Its Own Worst Enemy and the Hope for Its Future (Truth to Power)

FINALIST -- The National Jewish Book Award In this deeply personal journey of discovery, Ami Ayalon seeks input and perspective from Palestinians and Israelis whose experiences differ from his own. As head of the Shin Bet security agency,&nbsp;he gained empathy for "the enemy" and learned that when Israel carries out anti-terrorist operations in a political context of hopelessness, the Palestinian public will support violence, because they have nothing to lose. Researching and writing Friendly Fire, he came to understand that his patriotic life had blinded him to the self-defeating nature of policies that have undermined Israel's civil society while heaping humiliation upon its Palestinian neighbors. "If Israel becomes an Orwellian dystopia," Ayalon writes, "it won't be thanks to a handful of theologians dragging us into the dark past. The secular majority will lead us there motivated by fear and propelled by silence." Ayalon is a realist, not an idealist, and many who consider themselves Zionists will regard as radical his conclusions about what Israel must do to achieve relative peace and security and to sustain itself as a Jewish homeland and a liberal democracy.

Ayalon, Ami

David, Anthony

“A historical demonstration of the indispensability of the First Amendment [and] … an earnest and timely argument for [its] enduring value.” —Kirkus Reviews\n"Great storytelling about the history and importance of the First Amendment, from someone who has spent his life defending — and using — it." —Mary Beth Tinker\nFree speech is not an obstacle to change: it is the way change happens\nUncovering vivid and engaging stories about First Amendment pioneers, How Free Speech Saved Democracy shows how their struggle made possible the surging protests that aim to expand democracy today.\nHow Free Speech Saved Democracy is a revealing reminder that First Amendment rights have often been curtailed in efforts to block progress, and that current measures to reduce hurtful language and to end hate speech could backfire on those who promote them.\nTo those who see free speech as a threat to democracy, Finan offers engaging evidence from a long and sometimes challenging history of free speech in America to show how free speech has been essential to expanding democracy.\nFrom the beginning of American history, free speech has been used to advocate for change. In the 19th century, abolitionists, advocates for women’s rights, and leaders of the labor movement had to fight for free speech. In the 20th century, the civil rights and anti-war movements expanded free speech, creating a shield for every protest movement we see today.\nWritten by a historian who became a full-time defender of civil liberties and has spent four decades advocating for the rights of victims of censorship, this book grew out of Finan’s desire to address the declining support for free speech that is occurring as our country becomes increasingly polarized.\nThrough his evocative storytelling Finan demonstrates how the most effective antidote for the growth of hate speech and violence is support for and cultivation of the robust alternative of free speech.

How Free Speech Saved Democracy: The Untold History of How the First Amendment Became an Essential Tool for Securing Liberty and Social Justice (Truth to Power)

Finan, Christopher M.

"Riveting&nbsp;. . .&nbsp; harrowing and propulsive." --The New York Times Book Review *One of The Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2021 (Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly)* &nbsp; "This powerful story shouldn't be missed." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) &nbsp; An incandescent and inspiring memoir of resilience from a courageous young woman whose powerful advocacy brings to mind the presence, resolve, and moral authority of Malala and Greta Thunberg Before launching an unprecedented protest movement, Toufah Jallow was just a 19-year-old dreaming of a scholarship. &nbsp; Encouraged by her mother to pursue her own ambitions, Toufah entered a presidential competition purportedly designed to identify the country's smart young women and support their educational and career goals. Toufah won. &nbsp; Yahya Jammeh, the dictator who had ruled The Gambia all of Toufah's life, styled himself as a pious yet progressive protector of women. At first he behaved in a fatherly fashion toward Toufah, but then proposed marriage, and she turned him down. On a pretext, his female cousin then lured Toufah to the palace, where he drugged and raped her. &nbsp; Toufah could not tell anyone. There was literally no word for rape in her native language. If she told her parents, they would take action, and incur Jammeh's wrath. Wearing a niqab to hide her identity, she gave Jammeh's security operatives the slip and fled to Senegal. Her eventual route to safety in Canada is full of close calls and intrigue. &nbsp; 18 months after Jammeh was deposed, Toufah Jallow became the first woman in The Gambia to make a public accusation of rape against him, sparking marches of support and a social media outpouring of shared stories among West African women under #IAmToufah. &nbsp; Each brave and bold decision she made set Toufah on the path to reclaim the personal growth and education that Jammeh had tried to steal from her, a future also of leadership and advocacy for survivors of sexual violence, especially in heavily patriarchal countries lacking resources and laws to protect women and even the language with which to speak openly about sexual threats and violence.

Toufah: The Woman Who Inspired an African #MeToo Movement (Truth to Power)

Jallow, Toufah

Pittaway, Kim

Community & Culture

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