Embedded Files
Rainbow Revolutions by Jaime Lawson
Around one o’clock in the morning on June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York, sparking days of intense rioting. What happened at Stonewall sent shockwaves around the world, and became a defining moment for the LGBTQ+ community. From the impassioned speeches of bold activists Karl Ulrichs and Audre Lorde to the birth of Pride and queer pop culture, Rainbow Revolutions charts the dramatic rise of the LGBTQ+ rights movement, and celebrates the courageous individuals who stood up and demanded recognition. With bold and beautiful illustrations by pop artist Eve Lloyd Knight.
Review from School Library Journal:
This overview of the history of LGBTQ activism starts with the well-known Stonewall riots, then moves back in time to explain more than 20 turning points in Western culture from the 19th century to the present. Each spread details a significant person or event, while also emphasizing the ways activists rely on the work of those who came before them. These connections are further cemented in the timeline in the back matter; also included are a glossary and an index. Accompanied by Knight's bold and inspiring artwork, the text covers well-known topics and those that are sometimes overlooked, including the contributions of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color), trans activists, and women. Despite the brevity of each section, Lawson avoids oversimplification and uses a direct writing style that invites readers to learn from historical tragedies (the Holocaust, the AIDS crisis, and the deaths of Harvey Milk and Alan Turing). Lawson offers a perfect balance between celebrating the community's achievements and inspiring young leaders to keep fighting for justice.
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