Heritage History

All Americans, liberal or conservative, religious or not, can agree that religious freedom, anchored in conscience rights, is foundational to the US democratic experiment. But what freedom of conscience means, what its scope and limits are, according to the Constitution - these are matters for heated debate.

New York Times reported a most surprising piece of news. On May 12-13, the last battle of the Civil War had been fought at the southernmost tip of Texas—resulting in a Confederate victory. Although Palmetto Ranch did nothing to change the war's outcome, it added the final irony to a conflict replete with ironies, unexpected successes, and lost opportunities. For these reasons, it has become both one of the most forgotten and most mythologized battles of the Civil War.

Long before she was one of the Little Rock Nine, Melba Pattillo Beals was a warrior. Frustrated by the laws that kept African Americans separate but very much unequal to whites, she had questions: Why couldn't she drink from a whites-only fountain? Why couldn't she feel safe beyond home - or even within the walls of church? Adults all told her: Hold your tongue. Be patient. Know your place. But Beals had the heart of a fighter - and the knowledge that her true place was a free one.

At the age of 14, Francisco Jiménez, together with his older brother Roberto and his mother, are caught by la migra. Forced to leave their home, the entire family travels all night for 20 hours by bus, arriving at the U.S. and Mexican border in Nogales, Arizona. In the months and years that follow, Francisco, his mother and father, and his seven brothers and sister not only struggle to keep their family together, but also face crushing poverty, long hours of labor, and blatant prejudice.

From the perspective of the young adult he was then, Francisco Jiménez describes the challenges he faced in his efforts to continue his education. During his college years, the very family solidarity that allowed Francisco to survive as a child is tested. Not only must he leave his family behind when he goes to Santa Clara University, but while Francisco is there, his father abandons the family and returns to Mexico.

This is a most fitting tribute to a great man who proudly celebrated the history of African-Americans, from slavery to civil rights struggles.

The award-winning author/illustrator team of Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney - creators of the popular picture book "Alvin Ailey" - now present a swinging, vibrant audiobook about the jazz composer Edward Kennedy Ellington, better known as "Duke".

Create a meaningful legacy for future generations with this step-by-step guide to gathering and sharing your family history, packed with inspirational, creative, and practical advice from a leading oral historian and museum curator. A parent celebrates a birthday. A best friend moves away. A...

Hoping to discover a more personal take on Santa Fe? I created Santa Fe: A Local’s Enchanting Journey Through the City Different to give you an insider’s view of everything the city has to offer. Drawing on years of living here, I’ve put together an inviting New Mexico guidebook full of lesser-known stops, local eateries, and experiences you won’t see in other resources.

This audiobook features music and special effects. Listen along and enjoy the fun that is Hispanic Star: Sonia Sotomayor. Read about Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of the the most groundbreaking, iconic Hispanic and Latinx heroes that have shaped our culture and the world, in this...

This audiobook features music and special effects. Listen along and enjoy the fun that is Hispanic Star: Ellen Ochoa. Read about the first Latina in space, Ellen Ochoa, one of the most groundbreaking, iconic Hispanic and Latinx heroes that have shaped our culture and the world, in this gripping...

A vital path home. Employing African epistemologies and an embodied African beingness, this book embraces the revelation and miracle of Blackness. Creating a world worthy of our children requires recalling the dignity and distinction of the African way of life. This book is not written for...

Mals, Italy, has long been known as the breadbasket of the Tyrol. But recently the tiny town became known for something else entirely. A Precautionary Tale tells us why, introducing readers to an unlikely group of activists and a forward-thinking mayor who came together to ban pesticides in Mals by a referendum vote, making it the first place on Earth to accomplish such a feat, and a model for other towns and regions to follow. For hundreds of years, the people of Mals had cherished their traditional foodways and kept their local agriculture organic. Their town had become a mecca for tourists drawn by the alpine landscape, the rural and historic character of the villages, and the fine breads, wines, cheeses, herbs, vegetables, and the other traditional foods they produced.

""Hip, entertaining...imaginative.""—Kirkus, starred review *""Essential."" —Min Jin Lee * ""A Herculean effort.""—Lisa Ling * ""A must-read.""—Ijeoma Oluo * ""Get two copies.""—Shea Serrano * ""A book we've needed for ages."" —Celeste Ng * ""Accessible, informative, and fun.""...

It’s going to be “the biggest hoss race in the world”! Homesteaders are set to race on horseback, in gigs and wagons, and even by train to stake their claim in the Cherokee Strip, the last bit of Oklahoma territory opened for settlement in 1893. For 15-year-old Becky Fletcher and her family, it's the Promised Land: their last chance for a farm they can live on free and clear. But no journey to the Promised Land is without trials, and the Fletchers soon run into setbacks. Each difficulty tests Becky’s inclination to further her own and her family's interests at all costs.

An inspiring collection of DK audiobooks focused on Black history. Discover the obstacles that many Black people faced on the way to making groundbreaking accomplishments. You'll find out how they created lasting change and paved the way for future generations. This fantastic resource pack for...

Here’s the whole, true story of Rosa Parks’ life - and the spark of change she helped light for the civil rights movement. Unlike other Rosa Parks books for kids, So Other People Would Be Also Free reveals how Rosa’s lifetime of experiences inspired her famous choice - when she stayed seated on a segregated bus to take a stand for racial equality.

Like Geronimo in the southwest during the same era, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse were warriors and leaders of different groups of Lakota (Sioux), who fought in several skirmishes against settlers and U.S. forces across the Plains, during the 1860s and 1870s. Admired by their own people for their kindness and strong leadership, reviled by their enemies for their defiance, when The Great Sioux War of 1876 began, Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse were two of the most important leaders among all Native American tribes on the Plains.

Countless Latin American women have made a deep impact on culture, art, science, and politics, and are still doing it. In this book, you’ll learn about 10 of those amazing people. Some of their names may sound familiar already, and some may be new to you, but each of their stories will provide a deep insight into their lives and the struggles they had to overcome.

Who lived in Texas over a thousand years ago? In Porch Talk, John Erickson and his archaeologist friend Doug Boyd investigate this question while explaining the art and science of archaeology for middle listeners. On the Perryton ranch, John and his friends unearthed a ghost town that dated back to around 1300 CE. For more than twenty years, they worked together on this and other prehistoric sites, sharing a fascination for the ancient people who occupied the area. How did these people work, play, and survive?

Bedtime Inspirational Stories celebrates the achievements of the amazing black heroes who have paved the way for future generations. In today’s world, it can be a challenge to raise positive kids. More than ever, parents and teachers need to create a positive atmosphere for our children in order to help them believe in themselves. That’s why we’ve proudly created this inspiring audiobook, Bedtime Inspirational Stories: 50 Amazing Black People Who Changed the World, which highlights the achievements and stories of 50 notable women and men from the 18th century to today.