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The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon
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The Small and the Mighty

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The Small and the Mighty by Sharon McMahon
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Sep 24, 2024 | ISBN 9780593829745 | 614 Minutes

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  • Sep 24, 2024 | ISBN 9780593829745

    614 Minutes

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Praise

“With shimmering research, an observant eye, and a bright moral compass, Sharon McMahon leads us through the thickets of the past until we can see where we came from and where we are going.”
―David Grann, New York Times bestselling author of The Wager and Killers of the Flower Moon

“Sharon McMahon is a national treasure and a one-woman cavalry for truth, saving our republic one loving and clear-eyed lesson at a time. She and this book are a gift to our country.”
—Isabel Wilkerson, New York Times bestselling author of Caste and The Warmth of Other Suns

“This book won’t just enlighten and entertain you—it will leave you empowered by newfound confidence that you don’t need to be rich or famous to make a difference. The Small and the Mighty is a master class in making American history fascinating and fun.”
―Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Hidden Potential and Think Again, and host of the podcast Re:Thinking

“These are the underdogs, the unknowns, and some of the most amazing historical heroes you’ve never heard of. The Small and the Mighty overflows with inspiration and brilliantly proves that the best Americans are not always famous.”
―Brad Meltzer, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Nazi Conspiracy

The Small and the Mighty isn’t just history—it’s a testament to the power of courage and resilience. If you’re looking for a book that restores faith in the American dream, this is it.”
―Jermaine Fowler, New York Times bestselling author of The Humanity Archive

“Sharon McMahon has assembled a thrilling cast of idealists, trailblazers, change agents, and crusaders. Together they light up the past—and the page.”
—Stacy Schiff, author of The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams

“So many history books focus on what went wrong. The Small and the Mighty teaches us about the people who got it right. In a time when democracy is on the line, we need this book as a reminder that hope—even when it’s tiny—is strong enough to meet this moment.”
―Jemar Tisby, professor of history at Simmons College of Kentucky and New York Times bestselling author of The Color of Compromise and The Spirit of Justice

“McMahon is a world-class educator and masterful storyteller who has crafted an essential and irresistible book. If you want to be deeply inspired by history—and have a great time along the way—read this book.”
―Candice Millard, author of River of the Gods

“In this magnificent debut, Sharon McMahon offers detailed, nuanced portraits of unexpected heroes. In the process, she reminds us that citizenship is far more than a legal status―and that the American Dream is never writ small.”
―Alexis Coe, author of You Never Forget Your First

“This is a reminder that this country’s ideals were and are lived by people brave enough to go against the grain—without sugarcoating our history or letting systems of oppression off the hook. The Small and the Mighty is McMahon at her best: pointing out the light in the darkness. “
―Nora McInerny, author of It’s Okay to Laugh: (Crying Is Cool Too), No Happy Endings, The Hot Young Widows Club, and Bad Vibes Only, and host of the podcast Terrible, Thanks for Asking

“Too often, America’s history is told in black and white. In The Small and the Mighty, Sharon McMahon reminds us that our story is vastly more interesting, populated by unlikely and complicated figures. This book is a timely reminder of the promise of American citizenship: that anyone, no matter their background, can shape the course of the nation’s future.”
―Troy Senik, presidential historian, former White House speech writer, and author of Man of Iron

The Small and the Mighty powerfully illuminates the messy, often dangerous work of democracy, performed by imperfect Americans with hope for a more just world. Sharon’s characteristic humor, thorough research, and disarming candor combine to issue a blazing call to be the change we want to see, wherever we are.”
―Julie Bogart, author of Raising Critical Thinkers and founder of Brave Writer

“In The Small and the Mighty, Sharon McMahon has crafted an accessible, beautiful, and courageous masterpiece. Her meticulous attention to detail brings to light untold histories, keeping you frantically turning the page. This book is a road map toward understanding who we have always been.”
―Dr. Bettina Love, William F. Russell Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, and author of Punished for Dreaming

The Small and the Mighty drops us into some of the most riveting and consequential times in American history, where we meet twelve of the most important people you’ve likely never heard of. McMahon’s subjects are the folks who shifted the narrative of our country. McMahon’s gifted storytelling and deep research will show you why.”
―Kate Winkler Dawson, author of American Sherlock

“With stories you thought you knew and most you’ve never even heard before, The Small and the Mighty takes us on a journey of ordinary, human hope—something America decidedly needs. This is what you wish history class had actually been.”
―Kendra Adachi, author of The Lazy Genius Way

The Small and the Mighty brings to life a cast of Americans who deserve their place in our national Hall of Fame. It’s a swift, moving, beautiful book that makes you blush with pride—after swearing with outrage at the circumstances that forced them to act.”
―Timothy Egan, author of A Fever in the Heartland

Table Of Contents

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION New York, 1804

Angel of the Rockies
ONE Clara Brown, Kentucky, 1830s
TWO Bleeding Kansas, 1850s
THREE Clara Brown, Colorado, 1870s

The Next Needed Thing
FOUR Virginia Randolph, Virginia, 1890
FIVE Henrico County, Virginia, 1907

America the Beautiful
SIX Katharine Lee Bates, Cape Cod, 1859
SEVEN Katharine Lee Bates, England, 1880s
EIGHT Katharine Lee Bates, Chicago, 1890s

Forward Out of Darkness
NINE Inez Milholland, New York, 1910
TEN Maria de Lopez, California, 1911
ELEVEN Rebecca Brown Mitchell, Idaho, 1856
TWELVE Inez Milholland, the West, 1916
THIRTEEN France, 1916

An Orientation of the Spirit
FOURTEEN Anna Thomas Jeanes, Philadelphia, 1822
FIFTEEN William James Edwards, Alabama, 1869
SIXTEEN Julius Rosenwald, Illinois, 1862
SEVENTEEN Booker T. Washington, Virginia, 1856

Go for Broke
EIGHTEEN The Inouyes, Hawaii, 1924
NINETEEN The Minetas, California, 1942
TWENTY Daniel Inouye, Europe, 1943
TWENTY-ONE Norman Mineta, 1950s

Momentum
TWENTY-TWO Claudette Colvin, Alabama, 1950s
TWENTY-THREE Septima Clark, Charleston,South Carolina, 1898
TWENTY-FOUR America, 1950s
TWENTY-FIVE Teenagers in the American South, 1950s
TWENTY-SIX Montgomery, Alabama, 1955

CONCLUSION 
Acknowledgments
Notes

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