Myths Made in America | Oak Park Public Library

1) "All the real Indians died off": and 20 other myths about Native Americans

Author

Dunbar-Ortiz, Roxanne, 1938

Earliest Publication Date

2016

Description

Unpacks the twenty-one most common myths and misconceptions about Native Americans
In this enlightening book, scholars and activists Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz and Dina Gilio-Whitaker tackle a wide range of myths about Native American culture and history that have misinformed generations. Tracing how these ideas evolved, and drawing from history, the authors disrupt long-held and enduring myths such as:
“Columbus Discovered America”
“Thanksgiving...

2) "Prisons make us safer": and 20 other myths about mass incarceration

Author

Law, Victoria, 1977

Earliest Publication Date

2021

Description

Click to view

"Utilizing narrative, statistics and history, this book identifies and dispels 21 popularly-held myths about mass incarceration"-- Provided by publisher. The United States incarcerates more of its residents than any other nation. Though home to 5% of the global population, the United States has nearly 25% of the world's prisoners-a total of over 2 million people. This number continues to steadily rise. Over the past 40 years, the number of people...

3) "They just need to get a job": 15 myths on homelessness

Author

Brosnahan, Mary

Earliest Publication Date

2024

Description

Click to view

"The former CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless breaks through the highly destructive misinformation surrounding our homeless neighbors"-- Provided by publisher.

4) "They take our jobs!": and 20 other myths about immigration

Author

Chomsky, Aviva, 1957

Earliest Publication Date

2007

Description

Click to view

"Revised and expanded edition of the groundbreaking book which demystifies twenty-one of the most widespread myths and beliefs about immigrants and immigrations. In "They Take Our Jobs!" Aviva Chomsky challenges the underlying assumptions that fuel misinformed claims about immigrants, radically altering our notions of citizenship, discrimination, and U.S. history. Since it was first published, many of the same myths about immigration such as "immigrants...

5) "You can tell just by looking": and 20 other myths about LGBT life and people

Author

Bronski, Michael

Earliest Publication Date

2013

Description

Click to view

"Breaks down the most commonly held misconceptions about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their lives. "You Can Tell Just by Looking" unpacks enduring, popular, and deeply held myths about lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people, culture, and life in America. Some of these myths, such as "all religions condemn homosexuality, " have been used to justify discrimination and oppression of LGBT people. Other myths, such as "LGBT...

6) "You just need to lose weight": and 19 other myths about fat people

Author

Gordon, Aubrey

Earliest Publication Date

2023

Description

Click to view

"The co-host of the Maintenance Phase podcast and creator of Your Fat Friend equips you with the facts to debunk common anti-fat myths and with tools to take action for fat justice"-- Provided by publisher.