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 1965
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Arts / Culture, History: World, Classic Fiction
Elizabeth Borton de Treviño’s I, Juan de Pareja is a young adult historical fiction novel published in 1965. Its complicated portrayal of slavery, art, and self-expression earned it the Newbery Medal in 1966. In 1656, Spanish Golden Age painter Diego Velázquez unveiled his newest portrait: a simple study of one of his enslaved workers entitled Portrait of Juan de Pareja. Upon viewing the painting, de Treviño was inspired to imagine the story of this man... Read I, Juan de Pareja Summary
Publication year 1989
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Speculative Fiction
Publication year 1899
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Race, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, African American Literature, Race / Racism, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Education, Education, American Literature, Classic Fiction
Imperium in Imperio (1899) is a historical-fiction novel by social activist Sutton E. Griggs. Imperium in Imperio explores the idea of a Black utopia, wherein Black Americans form a shadow government to seize control of the state of Texas and form their own nation. In the late-19th and early-20th centuries, the novel was sold door-to-door in Black communities and was largely unknown to the white population, ultimately garnering little notoriety upon its original publication. However... Read Imperium in Imperio Summary
Publication year 1982
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Society: Community, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity
Tags Psychology, Gender / Feminism, Philosophy, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Sociology, Science / Nature, Psychology, Philosophy
Publication year 1925
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Harlem Renaissance, Race / Racism
Publication year 2012
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Colonialism, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Immigration / Refugee
Publication year 2015
Genre Play, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Language, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Teams, Society: Immigration, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags Play: Drama, Historical Fiction, LGBTQ, Jewish Literature, Gender / Feminism, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 1912
Genre Short Story, Fiction
Themes Society: Immigration, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Chinese Literature, Race / Racism
“In the Land of the Free” is the first short story written by British Canadian author Edith Maude Eaton, who was of British and Chinese descent. As one of the first Asian North American writers, her works explored themes of racial discrimination, the difficulties of assimilation, and the effects of the legal system on immigration and kinship. “In the Land of the Free,” originally published by the Montreal Daily Witness in 1890, explores the latter... Read In the Land of the Free Summary
Publication year 1948
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, Southern Gothic, Mystery / Crime Fiction, American Literature, Southern Literature, Southern Gothic, History: World, Classic Fiction
Intruder in the Dust is a 1948 novel by William Faulkner that examines racism in the American South in the mid-20th century through the tale of a Black man wrongly accused of killing a white man. The novel was adapted into a well-received film in 1949.This guide is based on the 2015 Vintage edition.Content Warning: The source text and this guide discuss racism, enslavement, and death by suicide. In addition, the source text uses the... Read Intruder In The Dust Summary
Publication year 2019
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: The Past, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Identity: Gender, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Gender / Feminism, Science / Nature, Social Justice, Finance / Money / Wealth, Sociology, Business / Economics, Technology, Health / Medicine, Politics / Government, Women's Studies (Nonfiction)
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Action / Adventure, Historical Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ
Publication year 1926
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Identity: Race
Tags Lyric Poem, Race / Racism, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, African American Literature, Harlem Renaissance, Black Arts Movement
Publication year 2002
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Relationships: Teams, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Leadership/Organization/Management, Military / War, Business / Economics, Self Help, Biography
Publication year 2017
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Grief / Death, Social Justice, Race / Racism, American Literature, African American Literature
Publication year 1898
Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Society: Nation, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Politics / Government, History: European, Journalism, French Literature, Sociology, History: World, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1922
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Beauty, Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Equality, Society: Economics, Society: Class
Tags Harlem Renaissance
Publication year 1981
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Community, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, Military / War, African Literature
July’s People, a 1981 dystopian novel by South African author Nadine Gordimer, imagines the aftermath of a bloody uprising that topples South Africa’s notorious, white-ruled apartheid regime. Her novel, which follows a white family’s desperate flight from Johannesburg, traces the complex interdependencies of white and Black South Africans, revealing the insidiousness of the regime’s racial disparities and mindsets, even among liberal, well-meaning white people. Through the lens of this hypothetical future, Gordimer’s novel explores racial... Read July's People Summary
Publication year 2015
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Health / Medicine, Race / Racism, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Science / Nature
Publication year 2018
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Race
Tags Social Justice, Crime / Legal, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Biography
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction