A must read. Great anthology of poems. This contains over 50 poems. Written by many poets, including Maya Angelou, Jimmie Durham, and Langston Hughes. This anthology will have you thinking.

This is a wonderful collection of poetry from writers of vast backgrounds. It would serve as a great introduction to anyone looking to branch out into reading poetry and/or about topics of social justice. The poems have been carefully curated to cover a broad cross section of topics - from race, gender, immigration, assimilation , and more. I really can't recommend it enough. Even if you don't believe you're a "poetry person," this collection may prove you wrong. From Tupac to Langston Hughes to Dorothy Parker to Assotto Saint, including a foreword written by Common, it's extremely accessible poetry and one that should find a home on everyone's bookshelves.

"America is not easy." Those are the words the editors use to open their introduction to this stunning, brilliantly crafted collection of poetry. The poems in this anthology grapple with the failed promise of the American democratic project and what that has meant for various communities. A wonderful mix of writers from Tupac Shakur to Toi Derricotte, Assotto Saint, and Pat Mora are featured. The writers boldly critique ableism, sexism, racism, queer antagonism, class-based discrimination, and other forms of marginalization and exclusion that have marked (and continued to mark) American political and social life. That this collection was assembled especially for children in middle school and high school is very important. To be honest, I see no reason why elementary school children should be excluded from the target audience; we know that children not only comprehend but also reproduce behaviors that perpetuate inequality at an early age. All too often primary and secondary education curricula approach American history and literature with reverence and limitless praise. There is very little recognition of the glaring contradictions that marked the nation's founding and shaped its present. There is very little of the erasure and marginalization that has disenfranchised some communities for centuries. As such, we need collections like these. They are deeply instructive for people of all ages, but especially necessary for young minds. The earlier we work to decolonize education and encourage critical reflectiveness, the better. I strongly recommend this anthology.