An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States for Young People

by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Indigenous

Kindle Edition

Published September 1, 2022

About the author

Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz grew up in rural Oklahoma in a tenant farming family. She has been active in the international Indigenous movement for more than 4 decades and is known for her lifelong commitment to national and international social justice issues. Dunbar-Ortiz is the winner of the 2017 Lannan Cultural Freedom Prize, and is the author or editor of many books, including An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States, a recipient of the 2015 American Book Award. She lives in San Francisco. Connect with her at reddirtsite.com or on Twitter @rdunbaro.

Reviews

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. It was interesting and informative, but a bit repetitive and I wish there had been more individual stories told.

[Kaylynnreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book. I think it was a great introduction to the colonization and establishment of the United States and the atrocities the indigenous peoples faced.

I loved learning how most nations and tribes had already established religions, governments, and trade networks that included the use of roads. Their ingenuity in agriculture and hunting was also so interesting.

This is a short book that only touched on hundreds of years worth of resistance and genocide and displacement. I will be continuing to read other books and sources (some suggested in this book) to learn more.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is history of the United States. So much makes sense and fits right in with what we are taught in school, except it frames it from he losing side. It’s known hat the US colonized and stole land, but the biggest perspective I found is how much propaganda was in our history books, some out and out lies. The most interesting thing I found though wasn’t just learning about the history, it was how it was framed toward today. It put so much of recent history and attitudes,as well as current events in to perspective. It’s so pervasive in our history and government to think we are “the chosen”. It’s not just the “better then”, it’s the attitude that we “know better”.

I listened to the audiobook, I don’t think I could have read it and stayed with it, which is why it’s not a 5. It’s heavy, long and intense. Listening made it a little easier to digest. There is no actual gore described, but 50% of the book talks about war and killing.

[Shai · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazingly informative. Covering a timespan of hundreds of years, the history of indigenous treatment in the western hemisphere was covered in depth by Ms. Dunbar-Ortiz. I enjoyed the fact that it included references to what happened in Hawaii and the indigenous people in Alaska as well.

The United States has a murderous history and a great deal of bloodshed that still needs to be repaid. I’m glad that the book ends by touching on ways to participate in the ongoing activism to ensure that the indigenous people receive some sort of reparation for all of the injustices they have endured.

[Brandi Simonis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really appreciate the way she unties some of the sugar coated history we were taught. She tells what happened and points out how history books have painted it a different or sugar coated way by leaving things out. But what’s so disheartening is that this is how the U.S. got its start. Stealing and using free labor and people don’t want to acknowledge that it occurred or stop it to this day. We need to keep educating ourselves and our children with books like this, to fill in the gaps and make us all aware of the past, so we can all do better in the future.

[Carol Painter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gut-wrenching truths that must be told and heard by all humans.
When will we ever learn...

[Eren · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very informative read. I’m planning to read the unadapted version, as I wanted more details for many parts of the book. I will definitely recommend for younger readers

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book that I think should be required reading!

[Britnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t call yourself an American until you’ve read this book and understand what that really means.

[Tara Bhat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and engaging for adults as well as youths. I learned a lot!

[Leslie Jara]

Can you actually read this book or it's you have to buy.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye-opening and VERY important!

[Zachary Albaugh]

water is life. I stand with the Water Protectors

[Lacie Kenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only complaint is that I want more. More history, more culture, more depth, more understanding.