Equality

The titles in this Collection examine the concept of social equality through a broad array of literary genres and forms. These curated selections represent a diversity of voices and perspectives that examine social disparities through the lenses of gender, race, socioeconomics, and other factors.

Publication year 2000

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Cold War, Politics / Government, Education, Education, History: World


Publication year 2020

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Politics / Government, Social Justice, Race / Racism, History: World, Biography


Publication year 2024

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice


Publication year 1996

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Teams, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Equality, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Relationships: Fathers, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Relationships: Grandparents, Self Discovery

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Sports, Bullying, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2016

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Race / Racism, Education, Education, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Sociology, Social Justice, Politics / Government


Publication year 2017

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Gender

Tags Gender / Feminism, Parenting, Social Justice, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)


Publication year 2017

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, American Literature


Publication year 1848

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Education, American Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Fame, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Gender

Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2022

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Crime / Legal, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Gender / Feminism, History: World, Politics / Government, Biography


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Family, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Courage

Tags Realistic Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Social Justice, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 1968

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Lyric Poem, African American Literature, Black Arts Movement, Black Lives Matter, Gender / Feminism, Allegory / Fable / Parable, Race / Racism, Mythology

“Ego Tripping,” also known as “Ego Tripping (there may be a reason why),” is one of American poet Nikki Giovanni’s most well-known poems. Giovanni first published this poem in 1972, which is the year that also marks Giovanni’s first trip to Africa, three years after the birth of her son. As the title of the poem suggests, this poem is a fulsome celebration of the many facets of Giovanni’s identity as a Black woman. Written... Read Ego Tripping Summary


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Place, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Fantasy, Leadership/Organization/Management, Politics / Government, Religion / Spirituality, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Romance


Publication year 2018

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Friendship, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction


Publication year 1987

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Gratitude, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Grandparents, Relationships: Mothers, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Tags Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction, Southern Literature, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Race / Racism

Ellen Foster is a work of adult fiction by US novelist Kaye Gibbons, first published by Algonquin Books in 1987. The novel was Gibbons’s debut, and it won the Sue Kaufman Prize for literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters and a notable citation from the Ernest Hemingway Foundation. Critics praised the novel for its unsentimental outlook and the wry, distinct voice of its protagonist. Ellen, a young girl living in the American... Read Ellen Foster Summary


Publication year 1863

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Nation, Identity: Race

Tags History: U.S., Politics / Government, Race / Racism, American Civil War


Publication year 2017

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Politics / Government, Self Help, Gender / Feminism, Philosophy, Leadership/Organization/Management, Social Justice, Philosophy, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2025

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Marriage, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Fairy Tale / Folklore, Romance


Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: Economics, Society: Class, Society: Education, Society: Globalization, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Society: Community

Tags Philosophy, Science / Nature, Psychology, Sociology, Politics / Government, Health / Medicine, Agriculture, Business / Economics, Class, Climate Change, Social Justice, History: World, Psychology, Philosophy


Publication year 1965

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Race / Racism, Southern Gothic, American Literature, Southern Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction

First published in New World Writing magazine in 1961, “Everything That Rises Must Converge” is the title story from Flannery O’Connor’s final collection of short stories. Hailed as one of the United States’ greatest writers, O’Connor is best known for her award-winning short fiction and her contributions to the genre of Southern Gothic literature. The collection Everything That Rises Must Converge was published posthumously in 1965. It contains nine stories, seven of which appeared previously... Read Everything That Rises Must Converge Summary