THE YOUNG ACTIVIST’S DICTIONARY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE, by duopress labs , Ryse Tottingham, Andy Passchier, duopress; In collaboration with Ryse Tottingham, LGBTQ+ advocate and anti-bias, anti-racist educator edition, March 30, 2022, Hardcover, $14.95 (ages 7-12)
The Young Activist’s Dictionary of Social Justice aims to teach kids the vocabulary of change through an illustrated A-to-Z format.
Developed in collaboration with Ryse Tottingham — LGBTQ+ advocate and antibias, anti-racist educator — this new resource is packed with easily understandable definitions of timely concepts. Each spread represents a letter and provides concise, age-appropriate definitions, with subject matter spanning issues like racial justice, climate change, gender equality, LGBTQ+ rights, income disparity, voter engagement, and immigration. In addition to information, the pages are full of inspiration: Bite-sized bios accompany key terms, illuminating the stories of justice advocates who got involved with a cause at a young age. Infographics and sidebars bring complementary concepts to life. And with the rich resource section in the back, kids can read more about how to take action on the cause that’s meaningful to them.
The book features the following 15 young activist from around the world:
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- Greta Thunberg (Climate justice)
- Malala Yousafzai (Education)
- Audrey Faye Hendricks (Arrest)
- Claudette Colvin (Boycott)
- Iqbal Masih (Child labor)
- Mari Copeny (Environmental racism)
- Parkland Survivors (Gun control)
- Ruby Bridges (Integration)
- Frederick Douglass (Literacy)
- John Lewis (Nonviolence)
- Clara Lemlich (Organize)
- Marley Dias (Representation)
- Dolores Huerta (Strike)
- Jazz Jennings (Transition)
- Autumn Peltier (Water protector)
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—Synopsis provided by duopress
Heading into The Young Activist’s Dictionary of Social Justice, it’s clear that this book is not going to appeal to everyone. And that’s fine.
However, the definitions are straight forward and don’t promote one thing or another. They simply define terms that would apply to someone who is interested in social justice.
For example:
ally: someone who is united with and in support of another person’s cause
consent: the giving of agreement to or approval of what someone else suggests that involves you; it requires a clear “yes” or “no”
fair: when all are treated equally and honestly; free from bias, prejudice, or favoritism
pansexual: describes someone who is sexually or romantically attracted to people regardless of their gender identity or sex
values: a set of moral or ethical beliefs that help you figure out what’s right or wrong
If nothing else, The Young Activist’s Dictionary of Social Justice should prompt conversations between children and the people who care for them. It’s a strong resource for families who want to share more information with their kids.
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