As the first Muslim elected to Congress, Minnesota Democrat Keith Ellison explores what it's like to be an American in the twenty-first century. As a Black, Latino, and former Catholic who converted to Islam, Keith Ellison, is the first Muslim elected to Congress—from a district with fewer than 1 percent Muslims and 11 percent Blacks. With his unique perspective on uniting a disparate community and speaking to a common goal, Ellison takes a provocative look at America and what needs to change to accommodate different races and beliefs. Filled with anecdotes, statistics, and social commentary, Ellison touches on everything from the Tea Party to Obama, from race to the immigration debate and more. He also draws some very clear distinctions between parties and shows why the deep polarization is unhealthy for America. Deeply patriotic, with My Country ’Tis of Thee, Ellison strives to help define what it means to be an American today.

A “wide-ranging and incisive anthology” of articles and essays by the eminent journalist and antiwar activist from the 1960s to the twenty-first century (Publishers Weekly). David Harris is a reporter, an American dissident, and, as these selected pieces reveal, a writer of great character and empathy. As an undergraduate, he gained recognition for his opposition to the Vietnam War and was imprisoned for two years when he refused to comply with the draft. Throughout his long career, his writing has championed outsiders, the downtrodden, and those who demand change. These eighteen pieces of long-form journalism, essays, and opinion writings remain startlingly relevant to the world we face today. This career-spanning collection follows Harris from his early days as a prominent leader of the resistance to the Vietnam War, through regular contributions to many publications, including Rolling Stone and the New York Times. Born in Fresno and elected student body president of Stanford University in 1966, Harris has always had an undeniably Californian point of view—he imagines the future with an open heart and mind and pursues stories out of genuine curiosity, embedding himself among striking farmworkers, marijuana growers, the homeless on LA’s skid row, and occasionally, redwood trees. Inspiring, clarifying, and fearless, his abiding and lucid patriotism insists that our country live up to its own ideals.

More than any other, one song traces America's history of patriotism and protest. Everyone knows the words to "My Country, 'Tis of Thee." What most don't realize is that this iconic song has been a beacon of change for hundreds of years. Generations of protesters and civil rights pioneers have created new lyrics, beginning in royalist Britain and continuing through conflicts in colonial times, the American Revolution, the suffragist and labor movements, and the struggles for black and Native American civil rights. With spectacular illustrations by Caldecott Honor–winning artist Bryan Collier, My Country, 'Tis of Thee offers a fascinating insight into the American fight for freedom.

Interprets the patriotic song, America (My country, 'tis of thee), with photographs.

Before the "Star Spangled Banner" became America's national anthem in 1931, another song filled that bill: "My Country 'Tis of Thee." This patriotic hymn, which celebrated America's history and natural beauty, was written by Baptist minister Samuel Francis Smith in 1831. Since then, it has been beloved by millions of Americans. It even played an important role in the civil rights movement. This book introduces today's schoolchildren to this important historical song using easy-to-read sheet music, vivid photographs, primary sources, and key facts, and glossaries.

In the early 1960's Kruschev said, "We will take over the world without ever firing a shot." No one have a clue what he meant.....

Traces the life of the Baptist clergyman and poet who wrote the words to the patriotic song, "My Country 'Tis of Thee."