Thematic Sunday: Books Dealing With Civil Rights

Since it's Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, this week's theme is books about civil rights. I'm being extremely open about what civil rights are featured here. It's going to basically cover any sort of oppression going on, be it black, jewish, personal rights, etc. It will also cover people heavily involved in civil rights movements such as Martin Luther King Jr.

1) The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr.

Why: I should hope why would be obvious. Oh, and if you haven't seen the movie Selma yet, please do so.

2) The Autobiography of Malcolm X

Why: Malcolm X is just as important to civil rights as MLK. Yet he doesn't get nearly the same recognition as MLK does.

3) Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

Why: This was one of the first in the 1950s to really show the bigotry that went on in the United States.

4) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Why: Just read it.

5) Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Why: The US was not the only one going through civil rights issues in the sixties. This book is about the Nigerian civil war.

6) Before We Were Free by Julia Alvarez

Why: About a girl living in the Dominican Republic under the dictatorship of el Trujillo.

7) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

Why: Because it's Maya Angelou.

8) The Diary of Anne Frank

Why: Well, hopefully if you've had any sort of decent schooling, you've already read this by now. If you haven't, go pick it up immediately. I also hope I don't have to explain to you who Anne Frank is and why she's important.

9) The Color Purple by Alice Walker

Why: if you know anything about the Color Purple, you know why.

10) Hotel at the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Why: historical fiction novel dealing with a budding romance while Japanese-Americans were being treated like dirt during the 1940s due to what happened in Pearl Harbor.