The Power of Geography
With the Power of Geography, Tim Marshall examines 9 regions of the world (plus space) that have faced a recent geopolitical conflict of some form in recent years. He breaks down each region with a geographical description of its land and resources and then shows how geographic features have influenced that area's development. He then summarizes the full history of the territory and connects it all to the issues the area is facing in the current day. Marshall literally gives a worldview to each of these 10 regions and shrinks down the vastness of history into comprehensible ideas.
If you teach any type of World History (Ancient History, APHUG, Global Studies etc.) and you've struggled to make connections between history and current events - pick up this book! I would see most teachers utilizing this book as a reference book - taking some time to review a chapter when they're framing out a new unit for students.
For the rest of us, this book is excellent at providing some historical context to the headlines we read or listen to on the news.
Trying to make sense of the recent crisis in Ethiopia and the Tigray region? This book provides that context.
Wondering why China keeps popping up around the world? This book discusses China's intrusions and the reasoning behind their forays into Africa, the Caribbean, and Australia
Question why Elon Musk keeps trying to jet himself into space? Yep, this book discusses that also.
Basically, you need to check out the Power of Geography. It's a fantastic book for history teachers, but it's also really helpful for those of us just trying to make sense of the world right now.
Black Birds in the Sky
(YA reading level - graphic depictions of violence and use of the "n" word is historical documents)
Written by Brandy Colbert, Black Birds in thy Sky recounts the story of the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921. Colbert writes with plain and clear text to recount the details surrounding the event - a necessary tactic given the immensity of sadness surrounding the history.
Really though, the book is about much more than the massacre. Colbert weaves in events that proceeded the event - including the founding of Oklahoma, the pattern of violence against Black men in the years before the massacre, WWI, the work of Ida B. Wells, Reconstruction, and much more. Colbert also takes time at the end to connect the massacre to current events discussing how the story had been hidden for many years, how it was gradually exposed by Black historians, and how the echoes of that story are reflected in the events of 2020. It's a great example of how historical context connects events throughout U.S. History.
