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Book Summary and Reviews of Rise Up! by Crystal Marie Fleming

Rise Up! by Crystal Marie Fleming

Rise Up!

How You Can Join the Fight Against White Supremacy

by Crystal Marie Fleming

  • Critics' Consensus (1):
  • Published:
  • Oct 2021, 256 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

This urgent book explores the roots of racism and its legacy in modern day, all while empowering young people with actionable ways they can help foster a better world and become antiracists.

Why are white supremacists still openly marching in the United States? Why are undocumented children of color separated from their families and housed in cages? Where did racism come from? Why hasn't it already disappeared? And what can young people do about it?

Rise Up! breaks down the origins of racial injustice and its continued impact today, connecting dots between the past and present. By including contemporary examples ripped from headlines and actionable ways young people can help create a more inclusive world, sociologist Crystal Fleming shares the knowledge and values that unite all antiracists: compassion, solidarity, respect, and courage in the face of adversity. Perfect for fans of Stamped: Remix, This Book is Antiracist, Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy, and The Black Friend.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"A clear and damning appraisal of the United States' long-standing relationship with White supremacy—with actionable advice for readers to do better...Fleming leaves readers not just with a detailed account of the problems, but concludes with five things they can do to work toward justice. A smart guide to understanding and living anti-racism." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"This absorbing, thoroughly researched book provides an in-depth look at racism and offers steps young readers can take to become antiracist advocates...The book's positivity, depth of information not mentioned in other books for this age group, and the five steps provided to help people become antiracist advocates make this a standout and are sure to inspire young people to act." - Booklist (starred review)

"Rise Up! is the invigorating, thought-provoking, eye-opening, and essential book about fighting white supremacy that I wish I had when I was a teen. Crystal M. Fleming writes about tough subjects with authority and compassion, and inspires with a roadmap for how we can change the world for the better." - Malinda Lo, author of Last Night at the Telegraph Club

"Rise Up! is a book that I wish had been around when I was a teen! Sociologist Crystal Fleming exercises powerful ideas and teaching in this compassionate call to action. With an offering of barely-taught historical facts, characteristic quality writing and deft research skills, Fleming discusses the consequences of racism, settler colonialism, and other harmful forces that created the foundation of our society. Rise Up! is Fleming's act of love to the next generation, offering knowledge to build awareness, motivation to right the wrongs of our nation's past and present, and hope to create a brighter future. It's a must-read and an excellent teaching resource!" - Prudence L. Carter, Brown University, author of Stubborn Roots: Race, Culture and Inequality in U.S. and South African Schools

This information about Rise Up! was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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More Information

Dr. Crystal M. Fleming is an award-winning sociologist and writer. She is Professor of Sociology and Africana Studies at Stony Brook University. Crystal completed her Ph.D. at Harvard University and publishes scholarly research on racial oppression and anti-racism. She is the author of an academic book on race and white supremacy in France, as well as the critically acclaimed How to Be Less Stupid About Race: On Racism, White Supremacy and the Racial Divide. Her work appears in Newsweek, The Root, Huffington Post, and more.

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Read-Alikes

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    From the National Book Award–winning author of Stamped from the Beginning comes a bracingly original approach to understanding and uprooting racism and inequality in our society - and in ourselves.

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