A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America

by Ronald Takaki, Rebecca Stefoff (Adapter)

A longtime professor of Ethnic Studies at the University of California at Berkeley, Ronald Takaki was recognized as one of the foremost scholars of American ethnic history and diversity. When the first edition of A Different Mirror was published in 1993, Publishers Weekly called it "a brilliant revisionist history of America that is likely to become a classic of multicultural studies" and named it one of the ten best books of the year. Now Rebecca Stefoff, who adapted Howard Zinn's best-selling A People's History of the United States for younger readers, turns the updated 2008 edition of Takaki's multicultural masterwork into A Different Mirror for Young People.

Drawing on Takaki's vast array of primary sources, and staying true to his own words whenever possible, A Different Mirror for Young People brings ethnic history alive through the words of people, including teenagers, who recorded their experiences in letters, diaries, and poems. Like Zinn's A People's History, Takaki's A Different Mirror offers a rich and rewarding "people's view" perspective on the American story.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, School, American History, Social Justice, Race, Education

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Ronald Toshiyuki Takaki was an American academic, historian, ethnographer and author.

Reviews

[destiny ♡ howling libraries]

Assigned reading for MLIS 7421: Multicultural Youth Literature.

[Cheryl]

wow... I am so looking forward to reading the one copy in all of my libraries... why have I not heard of this before....

[Darien Olson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This should be mandatory reading for ALL students.

Takaki tells American history through the narrative voices of non-dominant communities in a way that does not (necessarily) contradict the dominant narrative but instead supplements it to reveal a broader, more inclusive (and arguably more accurate) history. It is not told through a singular lens but rather through various cultural lenses in a way in which moments in time are revealed to be of particular importance to particular communities. And, all of this is done in a way that is accessible for young people in both form and language.

This enriching resource will certainly find a home in my pedagogical praxis as a way to explore American history through different cultural lenses to honor both our unique and shared/collective histories.

[Bibliobites Veronica]

I got about halfway through this book thinking, well okay, but nothing new really. Then as I was discussing it with someone else, I realized it was nothing new because I’d read many other different books on the separate topics addressed in it. So if you haven’t I’d say this is a pretty good introduction, a place to start that will hopefully encourage you to dig in more to a history or perspective you maybe hadn’t considered before. It’s even-handed and fairly neutral in tone, and ends on a hopeful, encouraging note.

I’ve not read the ‘full’ or original book, this is a young readers edition and as such would be appropriate for Charlotte Mason students in year 7+. However, it should be used as a supplement ONLY, and should not replace any other American history text you might be considering.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, must read. An easy to read book on the multi cultural perspective we rarely get from other history books. Whole and compete, this book brings the story-less-told perspectives of immigrants, refugees, people of colour and the outsider and how they have made what America is today. If you like history, particularly of America, this is a must read.
For nothing, just especially read chapter 16: the realities of today's America

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

“As the time approaches when all Americans will be minorities, we face a challenge: not just to understand the world, but to make it better. A Different Mirror studies the past for the sake of the future” writes Ronald Takaki. His book challenges the Master Narrative, the idea that our country was settled by European immigrants and that Americans are white, by telling the stories of multicultural Americans. He is a gifted storyteller who introduces his reader to fascinating historical figures such as Ingacio Piña, a 6 year old Mexican American boy wrongly deported in 1931 who successfully proved his U.S. citizenship years later and Mary Harris, the namesake of Mother Jones magazine. I liked how Takaki weaves primary sources throughout the narrative so we can hear from historical figures in their own words.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I learned so many facts I didn’t know before and that I wish were taught in school to give us a more complete picture of American history. For example Fort Winfield Scott in the Presidio is named after an army general who rounded up Cherokee people as part of the Trail of Tears. Americans illegally crossed the border into Texas and California when those regions were part of Mexico in the 1830s. And it wasn’t until 1952 that immigrants of color could become U.S. citizens. I read the young people’s version of this book because I wasn’t sure I would ever get around to reading the 500 page original version, but now I want to. I liked this text better than A People’s History of the United States (where I also read the young people’s version ;), as I thought it was more readable and I appreciated that Takaki doesn’t tell his readers what to think and writes from his perspective as a person of color. His work reminds us that Trump is not an anomaly but rather continues many themes of our racist past. I encourage people to read this book or others like it as an act of resistance.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it. This might be the first nonfiction ebook I've ever read. It was eye-opening; I knew the US, as a country, had a horrible history of treating minorities badly, but I didn't realize quite how vile that treatment really was. It seemed like the country was a spoiled child who couldn't handle anyone different in any way. ugh... This was definitely a different take on the American history I had in K12. I hope it's changed now, but as I assume it's still glossing over many things, a book like this should be required reading for all middle/high school students.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good overview of the history of some of many different ethnic groups in the US, and a good book to supplement US history for kids (maybe junior high and up) so they aren’t getting just European American history.

I haven’t read the adult version of this book, but this one gets a bit dry in a few spots, perhaps because simplifying the sentences for younger readers took out some of the beauty. I’ll definitely make sure my kids read this when they’re older though.

[Toheed Ahmed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This works well as an introduction to Multiculturalism in America. Though there were some things I knew, a lot of it was new information to me. Very well put together and informative. I do wish there were some aspects that were expanded upon, like Native Hawaiians, Native Americans in post-WWII, Muslim-Americans, etc., but still highlighted groups of people in times I wouldn't normally think about them in. Loved the quotations and examples from colored people throughout time, letting them tell their own story.

[maryam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very insightful about the historical references that most people don't know about. I read this as a history book in my history class but honestly it was more of an informative read and something that I actually enjoyed reading. I'm really glad that may teacher decided to read this book rather than any typical book. Overall, it was a good book!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good and necessary read. I think it might work best when read alongside te standard textbooks so you can see what is missing. Our nation has always been multicultural, and that should be celebrated. Far from making someone hate America, it should show us our strengths. And yes, it is important to see when we failed to live up to our own ideals so we can do better. The one thing I wish this book had done more would be to give more stories of contributions from minority populations in America.

[Joanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great supplement to our homeschool history curriculum.

[Mikayla Beckman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this for my social studies methods class (how to teach social studies). This was like a textbook but in a chapter book format which I did enjoy. It was incredibly readable and accessible, and I could definitely see this being used in a high school classroom. However, the title is misleading. This book really didn't provide a "different mirror" of American history. It provided the same white-washed, Eurocentric lens. Yes, some more multicultural aspects were included that may typically be brushed over in your standard history textbook, but still, I wasn't left feeling too impressed. This honestly felt like an abbreviated version of my AP United States history textbook. The formatting was also a little weird to me. There were such large margins on the pages so there were so few words on each page. This made it great for writing notes in the margins, but in my opinion, there was nothing really that revolutionary to remark on. Also, I really wish the chapters were more specific about the time period they were covering. For a book that claims to be multicultural, there was no mention of the colonization of Hawaii or LGTBQ civil rights. There was one sentence in this book about how Israel was split between Israel and Palestine, which really left out the true violent nature of what actually happened which was disappointing to me. Also, the author seems to make the argument that America "made it up" to the interned Japanese Americans during World War 2 by issuing an "official" apology. I feel like this neglects the actual harm that was caused and the intergenerational impacts. Obviously, a 350-page book cannot encapsulate the entirety of the United State's history and its complexity, but this book definitely could have done more to center a multicultural history.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this as the course text for a 7th grade cultural competency class. Obviously this is the younger edition of Takaki's actual book, but this made it very digestible for 12-13 year old students. This book challenges standard American history by focusing on the various cultural groups that enter America and their experiences with white America. While a difficult book to read it clearly sets out the procedures and policies that allowed for institutionalized slavery and racism to take hold in America. When faced with the questions of what is systemic racism in modern America this book gives a clear historical answer. Although this book is challenging it is also very hope filled. Takaki poses the idea that we can rise above our cultural differences if we first acknowledge their roots and move toward a true multicultural America. I am glad to have read this book and will continue to use it as a teaching tool in the future.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains a number of different perspectives on history that we don't usually hear. By this I mean, something other than the usual white dominant perspective that is always taught. I think it is important that young people hear these other stories, learn about these other perspectives. For many, it will be how they see themselves and their cultures (finally) represented.

One thing that I struggled with is that the word Black was not capitalized - then I realized that when this book was written, that was not a thing yet. If a teacher were to use this in their classroom, this would be an important talking point. There may be some other things like that in this book as we change, grow, and try to become better humans, make a difference, and try to help our young people do the same.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

Basically a flyover of U.S. history of racial discrimination, with a soft touch. Some of it is just a little too soft, IMHO, providing sort of moral cover along the way. Not that the book is soft on racism, but soft on the general population and its general acceptance of discrimination in many forms.

Still, there are lots of facts here — good for intermediate-level reading (say, 4th-5th graders) — and should be on any teacher’s shelf thru 8th grade as a resource.

[Layne Horgesheimer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had to read this for a class but figured I would add it in here cause it was entertaining for a class book. The stories were written well and it was a great book to read to learn even more about America and its history.

[Chiaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a doubt, I believe that Takaki’s writing shed light on his goal of proving the significance of immigrants in the making of America. The book has multiple subjects, but stories are very similar in that they showcase diverse people and their submission and (more pointedly) their resilience against a seemingly stronger force that is white supremacy. Towards the end of the book, Takaki has the chapter labeled “‘We Will All Be Minorities'’”. This book was written in the 1990s, so there is a lot that is unsaid here. However Takaki attempts to close the book by promoting racial and ethnic diversity as an inevitable but positive phenomenon-- something the United States is still coming to terms with.

I find that A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America holds its own when being compared to other sources of information I've looked at or studied in the past around the same topics. There will always be a passing The Atlantic article or an angrily written opinion piece, but to have an actual historically accurate and rather objective source of information that reinforces my knowledge and feelings as a Black, first generation individual was great. (Others call this book biased, but it just happens to lean in a direction they don't like while being factual.) In the past, I have read articles or watched videos about history immigration. The academic program I was in in middle school taught us about the Chinese Exclusion Act. I've also heard remarks by family members about Black-Jewish or Black-Asian relations. However, this book uses various sources and speaks very plainly in a way that is understandable by most people.

I will speak on strengths first:
The book was plainly written, but dense still. I appreciated at first that it went chronologically, focusing on a particular group when the group began to be introduced to the United States. (A book that touches on every single intersection and interaction between cultures would be much larger and not suitable for young people, so it makes sense.) It is well written and luminary.
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They also make sure to be candid about policies and actions taken by white Americans to destroy the lives of others. In doing that, they do a few things: they give the right people responsibility, highlight the strengths and weaknesses of every group technologically, and also make sure to illuminate the vast ecosystem of cultures and ethnicities in the United States, and how they function today.
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A favorite part of the book was in the earlier bits, when Takaki underlined that indigenous tribes and white groups could be ruthless or kind. Many times in history class and textbooks, Africans and Native North Americans are painted as docile, impotent victims who fell by the European sword. The book also successfully made me really angry, so I'd say that it did a great job.
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I have a few criticisms though:
Because this book is targeted to young people, it is inherently limited. It needs to be short enough to entice people to read it, and it can't be complex to the point that people don't understand what they're reading. I understand that, but after the first half, Intercultural conflicts aren't mentioned much. The book doesn't mention more than two groups at a time. (I’m sure the adult version is more in depth).
Being someone from Hawaii, I think it would have been really cool for Takaki to talk about how the USA pushed for Portuguese, Japanese, and Korean immigration to Hawaii to push out/”cleanse” indigenous people out.
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Other than the oppression by and towards Irish people, the book doesn't go in-depth about the depth and layers of whiteness. I think it is necessary to stress the conditionality of whiteness.
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I also found the absence on African immigrants to be startlingly disappointing (though the blurb lead me believe it would get attention. I think it would be interesting to talk about how selective the United States was (and is) in granting naturalization to African and Caribbean immigrants. Other ethnic groups, such as “Afghan” and Puerto Rican people were small talking points.

This book is definitely worth reading. Several times while reading, I said “everyone should read this”. A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America is definitely a great tip of the iceberg for anyone who wants to understand how the United States became the way it is (through an ethnic and racial lens).It's limited of course, because it was written nearly 30 years ago. I was surprised at how well it has held up though. It definitely makes valuable contributions to what Americans should know about history.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Different Mirror was recommended by a friend of mine. As he is not a native speaker of English he found the young person’s format much to his liking. Ie, he opined it was informative while still being relatively easy to read. Although I have done a lot of reading on various groups of people of color in the USA in recent years, I was in between books so to speak. So I decided to give it a try.

The book has many strengths. Written as a popular rather than an academic history for younger readers its direct prose makes it quite readable. It being organized according to groups of people rather than chronologically allowed the author to cover a lot of information in a more engaging manner. Interspersed amongst the text are numerous photos or reproductions of art which serve as great visual aids to the points being made. There are also a number of brief narratives offering information about particular people who made noteworthy contributions to efforts at overcoming racial prejudice, discrimination, and violence in the USA.

As with any book trying to be as comprehensive and yet remain moderate in length as this one did the author had to make choices about what to include, let alone how much to say about topics covered. On the one hand, the book succeeds in giving the reader a general sense of the extent to which the USA has always been multicultural as well as its long and unfortunate history of prejudice. I learned some things about some groups of immigrants whom I had known little about beforehand: Irish, Chinese, and Mexican, in particular.

On the other hand, there are elements regarding any one particular group which are left out. For example, Frederick Douglass was not the only important African American leader in the mid 19th century. The Underground Railroad is barely mentioned in passing. The book did not note that the 13th Amendment to the Constitution did not abolish slavery in the border states because Lincoln was afraid of alienating them. Additionally, it failed to explain that Lincoln did nothing about the fact that African American soldiers were paid less than White soldiers in the Union Army. Although Lincoln is thought of as a courageous humanitarian by most historians, the author did not note that he also believed that White and free African Americans could never live together in harmony.

The same can be said about the treatment afforded the Japanese American Internment Camps during WWII. Nothing is noted about the ‘No No Boys:’ the young men who refused to sign a loyalty oath in protest over their rights having been violated in the first place. Neither was Fred Korematsu mentioned: the Japanese American whose court case finally led to the internment being declared illegal.

I realize that one must consider the length when writing a book like this. However, information such as noted above by me could have been included in a few sentences here and there. It would have added greatly to the overall quality of the book. For these reasons I would give it a 3 star rating. Readers should be aware that this is a well written and well intended effort to delineate a complex aspect of life in the USA. While the author ends on a hopeful note, it should be added that developments since its publication in 2011 suggest that racial hatred and violence is still very much a problem in the USA.

[Beyond the Pages with Eva K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick Summary: Excellent educational resource

My Review: Multicultural ed text for MS and HS students

My Final Say: Students really liked A Different Mirror for Young People: A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki. They indicated that they found it to be informative and eye opening. They had rich conversations on the subject matters presented, as well as Socratic seminars on key topics revealed. Alongside reading this text, they used primary and secondary sources to aid them in better understanding the book's content.

I loved how comprehensive Takaki's book was. It covered so much about the different peoples who came to inhabit this country. It also shared information on the indigenous people who were native to this land.

What I walked away with as my personal takeaways was:

1) Though different, we share many commonalities and experiences.

2) The standards and ideals that our nation was founded upon were not always honored or lived out with respect to all people.

3) When we fail to acknowledge and live out "justice for all" and "all men are created equal," we sadly doom ourselves, quite often repeating history.

4) The more things change, the more they stay the same.

5) Standing up and speaking up against injustices focused toward any wrongfully oppressed people group, no matter who they are or where they come from, will always be right and necessary.

6) Omitting history does not negate it. History must be told in totality.

7) Truth always comes to light.

8) Laws and policies should benefit all and not just some.

9) Illegal practices being written to "legally" cloak wrongs is still and will always be WRONG.

10) Just because something doesn't affect you and yours directly does not mean you should remain silent on the matter. Be an advocate. Apply the "Golden Rule."

I could have kept going, but I'll stop there. Read this book for yourself. Dig into history and learn. Thereafter, keep learning, keep growing, and keep seeking truth. Finally, live with truth as your guide. (Do this on repeat.)

Other: Should you choose to opt out of reading this book, ask yourself why. I challenge you to be open enough to get real. Don't form your opinion based on the arguments and views of others. (Not even mine.) As with any book, any aspect of history, or any experience in life, view it through the lens of honesty, with a conviction and commitment to obtaining true clarity.

Rating: 5+++/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: YA to A
Favorites Shelf: Yes

#wishlistread

[Liv · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent volume on U.S. history that explores it from multiple lenses of the population without glossing over or white-washing aspects of the American story. It holds up America as a multicultural society with the ability to bridge divides between groups, and it tells how the country has both continually struggled for equality and won many victories for diversity.

The thesis of the book is best summed up by an included quote from President Bill Clinton:

"Consider this: we were born with a Declaration of Independence which asserted that we were all created equal and a Constitution that enshrined slavery. We fought a bloody civil war to abolish slavery and preserve the union, but we remained a house divided and unequal by law did another century. We advanced across the continent in the name of freedom, yet in so doing, we pushed Native Americans off their land, often crushing their culture and their livelihood.... In World War II, Japanese-Americans fought valiantly for freedom in Europe, taking great casualties, while at home their families were herded into internment camps. The famed Tuskegee Airmen lost none of the bombers they guarded during the war, but their African-American heritage cost them many rights when they came back home in peace...."

[Gabrielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great nonfiction title for both middle school and high school. I am looking forward to discussing this title with my MASL Diversity Task Force Book Club group. I thought the book did an excellent job dissecting the "Master Narrative" that is often taught in schools or showcased in the media. This book definitely makes it clear that BIPOC were practically written out of history and if they were mentioned in the book, it was in favor of the oppressor's narrative. I thought the book did a great job in discussing the different ethnicities that were represented in North America. I gained some new knowledge about the Great Migration and how northern cities, the Railroad Industry, and both World Wars really played a role on how BIPOC were exploited when it came to working/labor. I learned about how both Irish, German, and Jewish immigrants and their opportunities were vastly different from those who were Black (American), Asian (American), and Mexican (American) and how "naturalized citizenship" only benefitted immigrants that were White in color. Overall, great book to have for having conversations about work and labor exploitation of both BIPOC and BWIPOC, race riots, unions, and job placement. Recommend for both Black Literature and Black History Classes. - GW

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about this one. The text is written in a style that seems abnormally flat and stilted, compared with other history texts I have used that were geared to the 12-15 age range. This could be because the writer is "translating" an existing adult text into something youth-friendly? It has lost some of its spark in the process.

I also found it jarring that the language was at times so basic yet the content was at times so mature - graphic violence, sexual references, industrial accidents and so on. However, I did appreciate that the book has chapters on so many different nationalities and ethnic groups, allowing you to observe similarities and differences in their histories.

As an aside, I had ordered this to use as a homeschool text with a 10 year old but decided against using it, as - due to the content - I would have ended up paraphrasing or omitting various sections. I thought it was helpful for me to read it, though, and I plan on reading the original version at a later date, A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America.

[Jessica Bittmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required text for high school curriculum. I learned about slavery and the civil rights movement in my American Education, graduated from high school in 2009, but I never truly learned America’s history and diversity noting that tony bit. At least not until I read this book. I knew somewhat that racism excited in policies and laws, but learning about the specific laws and actions that the government and culture has taken throughout history led me to realize how truly racist our country has been to those, non-white/European Americans. I suppose I knew that white supremacy existed in a general sense, but it was this book that showed me how much it very much still exist and plays a part of our lives today.

I also found this version, the version for young readers, very easy to follow along and seemed to be less dense than the original version, which I only read small pieces of.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I used Takaki's "A Different Mirror for Young People" as a supplemental text for homeschooling my child in 7th grade US History. I found Takaki's writing (or maybe Rebecca Stefoff's adaptation) approachable and information to be excellent. It served as a nice compliment to our other text, which was guided by Zinn's "A Young People's History of the United States" (again, adapted by Rebecca Stefoff).

If you have a young person in your life, especially one who is interested in history, this is a great one to have in their personal library. It may be a bit dry for casual reading, but it's a great resource to provide a more holistic approach to US History, especially if the school is teaching the traditional white-centric narrative. When reading the various chapters and looking at different eras in history, recurring themes begin to emerge, which makes it easier to apply lessons from the past to current events.

[Demetra · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Takaki sought to tackle the Eurocentric “Master Narrative” head-on in order to craft a more inclusive history of America, as well as to unravel the “Othering” of people of different races, ethnicities, and religious and cultural backgrounds. These include, for example, Native, African, Irish, Latin, Asian, Mexican, and Jewish Americans. The author and adapter took on an incredibly hefty task of retelling the history of America through a multicultural lens and making it accessible to young readers. To me, it read like a revisionist history textbook. However, I struggled sometimes to buy into the book itself because some of the history told in it (primarily the first eight chapters) regurgitated what I was taught in secondary school, which felt contradictory to the book's whole goal.

[Colin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really excellent book, intended for use as a textbook, that shines a light on the multicultural areas of United States history that frequently receive little to no attention in the traditional narrative. The book is a broad survey of multicultural issues, and so necessarily does not go into much depth with events (e.g. Cesar Chavez gets a surprisingly brief mention), and often skips over large amounts of time (e.g. a section talking about the struggle for equality for African-Americans jumps from Rodney King in the 90s to the 2008 election of Barack Obama as 44th president) - still these are not complaints about the book, but observations about its nature.

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate the tone in this book. I first read Takaki's original in college, and I think this young readers' version is a good one. Takaki looks at so many different people groups, shows how they were terribly discriminated against, but also shows how patriotic they were, how hard people have worked to make America a "better place," and how much progress America HAS made in this area. Ultimately, this is a hopeful book, even amidst the harshness of some of the history, without the fierce bitterness present in much of today's rhetoric. He ends by encouraging readers to embrace our country's people groups and strive for unity. I'm looking forward to discussing this with my teens.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing book. I read Takaki's A Different Mirror when it was first published in 1993 and learned so much, mostly how important it is to look at history from many perspectives. Takaki points out that an incomplete history is like a mirror that does not reflect everything, a mirror that treats some people as if they were invisible. He suggests we hold up a differnet mirror to history, one that reflects everyone's history. This adaptation for young folks was a great refresher course for me! I highly recommend both books and especially this version for the young people in your life.

[Lilly Pittman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It offers one perspective of American history. It is a fairly well-rounded, inclusive book in terms of race and somewhat in terms of ethnicity. A great overview, to use as a starting place for more research. That said, this book rarely touches on women's contributions to American history, much less anyone in the LGBTQ+ community. I love that it is accessible for younger readers, especially middle grades. However, because of this young audience, some terms are softened. For example, when describing a genocide, this book will use another word than genocide. I found that really frustrating.