A DIFFERENT MIRROR FOR YOUNG PEOPLE

A second young readers’ adaptation of late scholar Takaki’s 1993 original work for adults, updated with 100 pages of additional material by university professor Paik.

Adapter Stefoff’s introduction to this new edition of a work that presents a more inclusive vision of U.S. history describes “small but meaningful” changes to the 2012 version, including vocabulary that reflects shifting perspectives, such as enslaved persons instead of slaves. Paik contributes a new introduction, a new end to the chapter “Calls for Change” (which discusses “the battle against discrimination”), and three new chapters, which appear toward the end of the book—“Rising Inequality,” “Forever Wars Over There and Right Here,” and “An Ongoing Struggle for Justice.” These additions put into perspective the challenges of recent times, contextualized with accounts of real young people. Following a discussion of the deliberate racial targeting of Black people in policing and sentencing, Paik describes the wrongful arrest and brutal incarceration of Kalief Browder (1993–2015), which contributed to his early death. Her exploration of globalization, immigration, border control, the War on Terror, and related topics concludes with a profile of Mahira Raihan, who as a young teen became involved with Desis Rising Up and Moving. The work also covers ongoing weakening of the Voting Rights Act and the rampant expansion of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. This comprehensive resource effectively integrates new information, maintaining its relevance and usefulness.

A valuable, scholarly counterpoint to limited historical narratives.