Synopses & Reviews
Dissent and protest have been at the heart of the American story from the first days of settlement to the present.
Dissent in America traces the theme of dissent as it weaves its way through the fabric of American history. This collection of first-hand accounts show how dissenters fought to gain the rights they believed were denied to them, or others, or have disagreed with the government or majority opinion. Through songs, speeches, articles, testimonies, letters, and more, they tell the story of our nation and give us a unique look at the country that America has become.
With the words of almost 150 dissenters, Dissent in America features:
- A chronological organization with ten parts, from Pre-Revolutionary Roots (1607-1760) through Contemporary Dissent (1975-Present).
- First-hand accounts from well-known dissenters (Samuel Adams, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Frederick Douglass, Susan B. Anthony, Booker T. Washington, Langston Hughes, Bob Dylan, Martin Luther King, Jr., Betty Friedan, Ralph Nader) as well as lesser known dissenters (Cherokee Chief John Ross protesting a treaty in 1836, Sarah Grimke on the equality of women in 1837).
- Essays that introduce each chronological section and place the writers and issues in historical context.
- A brief introduction thatprecedes each document and discusses the significance of each dissenter.
Review
"While Young defines dissent as coming from both the Left and the Right in his introduction, left of center predominates." Library Journal
Review
"This is a wonderfully rich collection of voices of courage and resistance through all of our national history. These are the true heroes of our country, not the presidents and generals and industrialists, but those who spoke truth to power, and their words not only instruct us about our history, but inspire us at a time when dissenters are so needed." Howard Zinn, author, A People's History of the United States
Synopsis
This collection of primary sources presents the story of US History as told by dissenters who, throughout the course of American history, have fought to gain rights they believed were denied to them or others, or who disagree with the government or majority opinion.
Each document is introduced by placing it in its historical context, and thought-provoking questions are provided to focus the student when s/he reads the text. Instructors are at liberty to choose the documents that best highlight a theme they wish to emphasize.
About the Author
Ralph Young's courses on dissent at Temple University have become so popular that he now holds weekly campuswide "teach-ins" on the topic. Stories about the teach-ins have been featured in an AP article picked up by over 50 news sources, and separate news stories by and about Dr. Young have appeared in USA Today and the Philadelphia Inquirer. In addition to being an Assistant Professor of History at Temple University, Ralph Young has written a number of suspense novels, including Crossfire, published in several countries including Japan, where it won a Suntory Prize for Suspense Fiction.