Represent
The Unfinished Fight for the Vote
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5.0 • 2 Ratings
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- $12.99
Publisher Description
This electrifying, can’t-miss story of American democracy is the “indispensable book we need right now” (Senator Raphael Warnock), “a must read for every American” (The Root), and “a balm for our democracy” (Reverend Al Sharpton).
Renowned thought leader Michael Eric Dyson and widely celebrated author Marc Favreau shine a light on the fight for democratic representation, an ongoing and epic quest to build the democracy promised in the Constitution. Each chapter takes on a new battle between champions of freedom and those who stand in the way of their right to vote—from the American Revolution straight up to the present day as we approach the 2024 presidential election.
Drawing clear lines from then to now, with impeccable research and exhilarating prose, Represent weaves this crucial struggle for democracy into an enthralling American drama that will help readers understand our past, present, and future.
"A vote is a kind of prayer for the world we desire for ourselves and our children. Without it, I would not have a historic spot in the United States Senate and we the people would not have a democratic framework in which to fight for the things that matter. At a time when that basic right is under assault by those committed to power at any cost, Michael Eric Dyson and Marc Favreau have written the indispensable book we need right now. Represent is a monumental contribution to our country’s perennial quest for justice and the right of every citizen to vote." —Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock
"A compelling book that is a balm for our democracy.... This brilliant book will inspire us to embrace a precious right that each generation must fight hard to preserve."―Reverend Al Sharpton
“A must read for every American, Dyson and Favreau introduce readers to some of the unsung heroes who have committed their lives to make democracy work for every citizen.”―The Root
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Collaborators Dyson and Favreau (Unequal) present the ideologies that disparage women and Black Americans and become the framework for contemporary American society in this accessible accounting of voting rights. In a linear chronology, the authors center historical figures like civil rights leader Fannie Lou Hamer and former Congressman John Lewis. Conversational text delivers a brief biography of the spotlighted subjects, details where they fit in the fight for voting rights, and outlines how their contributions were influenced by those who came before and in turn impact those who came after. The resistance from government leaders, poll taxes, and state legislation that citizens experience in their efforts to expand voting rights are discussed throughout. Additionally, Dyson and Favreau don't shy away from depicting the conflicts among voting activists, highlighting the exclusion of nonwhite Americans within the women's suffrage movement. Concerning the current political landscape, the creators address Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission and the weaponization of the voter fraud rhetoric that sparked the January 6 insurrection. Concluding solutions and resources make a fitting end to this relevant and inspiring account that shows how the past is not as far removed as one may think. Ages 12–up.
