For what audience would you recommend this book? Are there other books you would recommend on the same subject?

For what audience would you recommend this book? Are there other books you would recommend on the same subject?

I wish I could say all Americans would benefit, but I do think there is a good deal of detail that is beyond the understanding, perhaps even the interest, of older Americans whose beliefs about America are beyond alteration. In my opinion, this is a college-level educational text. Any of the books listed under "Credits" would likely expand the conversation.

The book would be an excellent text for university-level history classes and perhaps even high school AP courses, but is valuable reading for anyone willing to approach history with an open mind. The book's notes section lists many excellent references -- one with which I am familiar is Douglas Blackmon's "Slavery by Another Name."

Well, Muse48, I am the age of President Biden and I found this book to be enlightening and one that my bookclub members who are similar to my age would also find to be so. Yes, we are college-educated older Americans. Be careful of age discrimination here and remember that many of us older Americans were active in the Civil Rights movements of the 1960s and all the movements since. The sad facts about this book and others like it is that it will be read by those who are already in the camp of what is called liberalism and, therefore, will be ignored and/or disparaged by those in the other polarized camp. I think it is obvious from reading many posts this morning that those of us who have read the book have very similar political feelings. I. do agree that this is deep reading; not a summer beach read.

The book would be an excellent resource for anyone who wants to understand and appreciate better not just the history of slavery in America, but why marginalization and discrimination still exists today.
I came to view the book as a compilation of essays, not necessarily chapters to be read consecutively. For me, once I realized that, it was easier to absorb.
As to other books, "How The Word is Passed" by Clint Smith, is more story telling through the authors experiences, which may resonate with some.

Everyone should read this book. Others I would recommend: "Twelve Years A Slave," "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings," "Stamped From The Beginning."

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in American history. In addition, the work should be included in college courses. Another excellent book on the subject is How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith. It tells the story through his visits to specific places, including Monticello Plantation, The Whitney Plantation, Angola Prison, Blandford Cemetery, Galveston Island, New York City, and Goree Island. To help us in our education of social justice, our Sunday School class read several books on this topic. Some of the books we read were How the Word Is Passed, I’m Black. I’m Christian. I’m Methodist. edited by Rudy Rasmus, Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman, Reconstructing the Gospel by Jonathan Wilson-Hargrove, and White Fragility and Nice Racism by Robin Diangelo. I also read The Accommodations: The Politics of Race in an American City by Jim Schultze that was not part of my Sunday School study. Although the book is about Dallas, I’m sure that it represents many cities.

Ironically, I had a fiction book sitting on my table that I had checked out of the library and turned to it as I finished this book. Madamoiselle Revolution by Zoe Sivak began with the Haitian revolution written about in the 1619 Project and then, took the mulatto main character to the French revolution.. The author indicate that the book was prompted by learning about the Haitian revolution as a young black women and wanting to juxtapose the black revolution in the French colony of Haiti with the white revolution in France. I think this is an interesting view.

I would recommend for high school and up. I might recommend certain essays to a junior high student. Frankly, I think it is an important read for high school and college followed by a thoughtful discussion.

ritah, I meant no disrespect toward older Americans. I am 76 years old, myself, and also lived through the 60s. I only meant that The 1619 Project is a comprehensive study of 400 years of injustice and prejudice and is a compendium compiled by a multitude of learned men and women. I would not have had the patience nor the experience to appreciate its message when I was in high school or in my 20s or 30s. Please forgive me if I offended you in any way.

Muse48, I understand your points and am not offended. I did think you might be much younger!

I agree with Nora's recommendation.

As far as other books, I'm impressed by the ones that have already been mentioned. I would add Caste by Isabelle Wilkerson which lays the foundation of why people are treated differently. I just finished reading James by Percy Everett. It's a reimagined Huckleberry Finn told from the viewpoint of Jim, the enslaved man. It's provides a great example of what it was liked being enslaved. It's easy to read and a nice change from 1619 though no less serious.

Also, I highly recommend some books that have been written about slavery for young readers. I read Stamped : Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi, which is a version of Stamped From the Beginning for 12 and up, to my granddaughters. We discussed things along the way. It clearly piqued their curiosity. Therefore when they get to high school I don't think they would have any difficulty reading the 1619 Project.

High school age and older. I appreciate the book recommendations in so many of the posts to this question. Many of the replies some of the books I’ve read. Two books I’d add is “The Devil’s Half-Acre” and “Stolen” by Richard Bell.