Reference Reviews

Reference for Students

Prejudice in the Modern World Reference Library

Almanac. Edited by Richard C. Hanes, Sharon M. Hanes, and Kelly Rudd. Detroit, Mich.: U*X*L Thomson Gale, 2007. 2 vols. 462 p. $. ISBN-10: 1-4144-0204-X; ISBN-13: 1-4144-0204-8.

Because prejudice is always a negative whether it is an attitude, an emotion, or an observable behavior, it is always harmful to the persons to whom the prejudice is directed and to the person who prejudges others. The first volume of the Almanac covers the foundations and causes of modern prejudice, discussing racial, religious, social class, gender, sexual orientation, disability prejudices and nationalism. It outlines the consequences of prejudice. The second volume discusses genocide in Rwanda, the Japanese internment in the U.S. during WWII, multi-ethnic conflict in Yugoslavia, racial segregation in our South, Native Americans, the Holocaust, religious politics in Northern Ireland, and apartheid in South Africa. Perhaps most germane are the chapters on the Arab-Israeli conflict and the problems in Iraq between the Shiites and the Sunni and the treatment of the Kurds. The 3rd volume begins with a 14-page timeline of events beginning with the death of Muhammad and the split between the Sunni and Shiite Muslims and ending with the summer 2006 Israeli offensive against Lebanon, an 8-page glossary and 8 pages of research and activity ideas. Inset boxes provide additional information and "Words to Know" while black and white photographs and drawings illustrate the text. Individual chapters have brief bibliographies of books and Web sites and a general bibliography at the end of the volumes includes "Where to Learn More" listing more books and Web sites. Finally, a subject index helps teachers and students locate the people, places and events in the books.

Biographies. Edited by Richard C. Hanes and Kelly Rudd. Detroit, Mich.: U*X*L Thomson Gale, 2007. 1 vol. 230 p. $67.00. ISBN-10: 1-4144-0207-4; ISBN-13: 978-1-4144-0207-9.

Students can begin to understand the real meaning of prejudice in the modern world when they read the lives of persons who have been the victims of discrimination. The 16-page timeline for this volume begins with the 1882 illness of Helen Keller that left her deaf, blind and mute and ends with the summer 2006 launch of the Israeli offensive against Lebanon. An 8-page glossary is followed by the 25 biographies: Bella Abzug, Yasser Arafat, Cesar Chavez, Dalai Lama, Mahatma Gandhi, Heinrich Himmler, John Hume, Saddam Hussein, Alija Izetbegovic, Paul Kagame, Helen Keller, Leontine Kelly, Ruhollah Khomeini, Nelson Mandela, Wilma Mankiller, Golda Meir, Slobodan Milosevic, Mine Okubo, Rosa Parks, Soraya Parlika, Alice Paul, Jan Smuts, Gloria Steinem, Mother Theresa and Leyla Zana. Articles begin with the birth and death dates, their profession, a black and white portrait and a quotation. The text also has black and white illustrations, inset boxes with related information, and a brief bibliography of books and Web sites. A 4-page bibliography at the end of the book offers books and Web sites.

Primary Sources. Edited by Sharon M. Hanes. Detroit, Mich.: U*X*L Thomson Gale, 2007. 1 vol. 202 p. $67.00. ISBN-10: 1-4144-0208-2; ISBN-13: 978-1-4144-0208-6.

Students who need an introduction to the writings of those who have been victims of ethnic, gender, religious and racial prejudice will find it here. The last two chapters include World War II and ethnic strife and prejudice in society. Beginning with a 15-page timeline of events and an 8-page glossary, a brief introduction is given to the type of prejudice. As students read excerpts, they will find suggestions of "Things to remember…" Margin notations give definitions of words, and each excerpt ends with "What happened next…," "Did you know?" and "Consider the following." A few inset boxes offer additional, related information. A very brief bibliography includes books, periodical articles. Black and white photographs illustrate the text. This is an excellent source for students who are going to do more in-depth research in the causes and outcomes of prejudice in our world. A general bibliography and a subject index complete the book.

Cumulative Index. Detroit, Mich.: U*X*L Thomson Gale, 2007. 1 vol. 34 p. $9.00. ISBN-10: 1-4144-0209-0; ISBN-13: 978-1-4144-0209-3.

Because each volume in this series is indexed individually, this cumulative index is essential for students to locate specific information in this set. Its low cost makes it possible to purchase more than one index volume.