Striving into 2000

Children's Literature

The 1970s marked a time of great social discord in America. The Vietnam War spawned bloody clashes on campuses such as Kent State University and Jackson State College. Race riots in American cities as well as prison takeovers such as occurred at Attica in New York State underscored the heated nature of racial relations across the nation. Legal challenges to affirmative action and the growing effects of gangs, drugs and poverty of African-American families all pointed toward a downturn in race relations. Amazingly, resilient Black leaders such as Colin Powell, Jesse Jackson and Andrew Young helped pinpoint the need for ongoing governmental intervention to redress racial injustice. On an international level, the plight of Black leader Nelson Mandela in South Africa underscored the fact that racial intolerance was a poison that could engulf an entire nation in a stranglehold of hatred. As the new millennium emerges, racial politics, bigotry and prejudice continue in America, as well as other nations. Issues related to these themes of intolerance and short biographies of present-day African-American leaders are the focus of this final chapter in the "Black History" series. However, while this illustrated social studies text provides some excellent information, it is written in a rather disjointed manner. For example, the section about Nelson Mandela is of interest but appears artificially grafted onto a set of books geared toward African-American history. 2001, ABDO, $24.21. Ages 10 to 14. Reviewer: Greg M. Romaneck