A Different Mirror for Young People

Multicultural ed text for MS and HS students Students really liked A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki. They indicated that they found it to be informative and eye opening. They had rich conversations on the subject matters presented, as well as Socratic seminars on key topics revealed. Alongside reading this text, they used primary and secondary sources to aid them in better understanding the book's content. I loved how comprehensive Takaki's book was. It covered so much about the different peoples who came to inhabit this country. It also shared information on the indigenous people who were native to this land. Takeaways: 1) Though different, we share many commonalities and experiences. 2) The standards and ideals that our nation was founded upon were not always honored or lived out with respect to all people. 3) When we fail to acknowledge and live out "justice for all" and "all men are created equal," we sadly doom ourselves, quite often repeating history. 4) The more things change, the more they stay the same. 5) Standing up and speaking up against injustices focused toward any wrongfully oppressed people group, no matter who they are or where they come from, will always be right and necessary. 6) Omitting history does not negate it. History must be told in totality. 7) Truth always comes to light. 8) Laws and policies should benefit all and not just some. 9) Illegal practices being written to "legally" cloak wrongs is still and will always be WRONG. 10) Just because something doesn't affect you and yours directly does not mean you should remain silent on the matter. Be an advocate. Apply the "Golden Rule." I could have kept going, but I'll stop there. Read this book for yourself. Dig into history and learn. Thereafter, keep learning, keep growing, and keep seeking truth. Finally, live with truth as your guide. (Do this on repeat.) Other: Should you choose to opt out of reading this book, ask yourself why. I challenge you to be open enough to get real. Don't form your opinion based on the arguments and views of others. (Not even mine.) As with any book, any aspect of history, or any experience in life, view it through the lens of honesty, with a conviction and commitment to obtaining clarity.

Great book, however my copy, around page 58, was replaced by the novel "My Favorite Holidate" by Lauren Blakely. Forty whole pages were completely replaced by this random Christmas romance novel. It was very jarring and confusing, suddenly switching from slavery to talking about fake dating at a holiday party. The sudden switch up made me laugh. Will be buying a copy that hopefully isn't missing 3 whole chapters.

Very good book to teach history! It is so readable and gives definitions for words some people may not know so that you don’t get lost. It talks about things I never knew happened and shows me all the history I’ve been unaware of.

Perfect for young learners and simplified lessons, if you're a teacher or middle school/ high school student this book is perfect

I had to buy this book for a college course and I expected it to be a bore, but it was actually really interesting! Takaki does a great job of explaining that in our primary years, we are taught a narrative that only the "founding fathers" aided in the creation of the United States, when in reality, numerous people from various cultures were the foundation for our growth. An overall great book that I would recommend to all who want to learn more about their culture, and America's true story.

Wonderful adaptation of the original classic. I love the narratives at the end of each chapter humanizing the American experience with in its true form is multicultural. I plan to use this and the excellent online teaching companion with my 6th graders.

Excellent Book! Got for my 9 year old nephew in PA where they NEED to learn about America's REAL history!

Ronald Takaki wrote through the eyes of the various minorities who have helped make America great, but showing the trial each went through before they assimilated and became accepted. The book is an important antidote for those who are afraid that a swarm of "aliens" will take jobs away from Americans and otherwise cause unimaginable harm. Important fact: Mexicans were living in a huge chunk of the southwest before we seized half of Mexico in 1848.

カリフォルニア大学バークレー校などで歴史やエスニック・スタディーズを教えた日系三世の歴史家ロナルド・タカキ（Ronald Toshiyuki Takaki：1939-2009）の著書 A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America (Little Brown and Co., 1993) をヤングアダルト向けに編集した本です。白人の事績や視点が中心になっているいわゆるアメリカ史よりも、アメリカ合衆国を構成しているさまざまな民族の経験や視点から書かれている本書の方が、アメリカという国の歴史的発展についてよくわかるような気がします。文章も読みやすいですし、ヤングアダルト向けということで易しくしすぎているわけでも決してなく、一般の読者にとってもたいへん勉強になる好著です。 白人とは別の視点から書かれたアメリカ史、特に若者向けの本としては Ibram X. Kendi & Jason Raynolds, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism and You (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2020) という本もあります。この本も Ibram X. Kendi による元の本を若者向けに書き換えたものです。Stamped は黒人の視点からアメリカの歴史を書いたものですが、 A Different Mirror は黒人、先住民族、アイルランド人、メキシコ人、ユダヤ人、中国人、日本人など様々な人種の目を通してアメリカの歴史を見ています。 自由、人権、民主主義などを国是とするアメリカ合衆国ですが、それが実は建前だったり、一部の人（人種）にしか享受されない特権であったり、強者の論理が押し通されることで非白人の人たちが虐げられたりすることが繰り返されてきたということが、ひしひしと伝わります。Stamped はその強者に対する怒りや不信を前面に押し出した書き方をしていますが、A Different Mirror はもう少し淡々とした語り口で、ところどころ抑圧された者同士の連帯であったり、逆に争いなどが挿入されていて、全体的にバランスよく書かれている印象を受けました。