Welcome to The Radical Agenda
Our “radical agenda” is the belief that all aspects of American history need to be included in education. Here you will find book recommendations and resources to teach children about the contributions and experiences of Black, Brown, and Asian people and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Biographies
Find inspiring stories about the contributions and experiences of Americans.
topics
Find age-appropriate books organized by topic.
products
Buy the Radical Agenda Planner
Looking for a way to learn while staying organized? Look no further than the Radical Agenda Planner!
Featuring plenty of writing space, note pages, and all the things that make a great planner, plus a Monthly Learning Moment highlighting an important topic in American history. In addition, scattered throughout the two-page weekly layout are dates of historical significance, which will change every year.
A portion of proceeds of the 2023 planners will be donated to It Gets Better and the Texas Civil Rights Project.
AVAILABLE NOW: 2023 January-December Planner
This detailed planner does an excellent job of calling out parts of American history that have been previously whitewashed out. It’s shocking just how recent many horrifying incidents have occurred. This planner brings those to the forefront. It connects the past with the present. It’s not a “feel good” planner. It will push you to stretch your mind, to wake up and see racial injustice, and to no longer turn a blind eye to the abuse our human brothers and sisters have endured.
A Word
From TRA Founder
As a mom, I want my children to understand American history – but the curriculums I found lacked the diversity and holistic perspective I knew were important parts of the story. So we began to read books we borrowed from the library, and it opened up a whole new understanding of this country: the trials, the triumphs, and the challenging paths that so many were forced to walk. These stories are part of the tapestry of America and deserve to be included in education.
– Amanda Spencer, she/her
Blog
Find the latest posts
Curious what we’re reading lately? Check out the blog reel for our latest great finds.
When the Schools Shut Down {Yolanda Gladden}
When The Schools Shut Down We know the more famous stories of the responses to the Brown vs Board of Education ruling that ended school segregation, like Ruby Bridges in Louisiana and the Little Rock Nine in Arkansas. But did you know that one county in Virginia saw...
Thurgood by Jonah Winter {Thurgood Marshall}
Thurgood Marshall - From Arguing Before the Supreme Court to Sitting on it Short version of this review: we loved Thurgood by Jonah Winter and Bryan Collier. Another influential American whose story I never learned much of until I was an adult, Thurgood graduated from...
We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom
We Are Water Protectors We Are Water Protectors by Carole Lindstrom is a phenomenal book for children that tells the story of the Indigenous "Seven Fires Prophesy," which tells of a "black snake" that comes after the land and the sacred water. As the story continues,...
They Called Us Enemy {George Takei and Japanese Internment Camps}
Japanese Internment Camps They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, and Steven Scott (with art by Harmony Becker) is an illustrated biography in graphic novel format. George Takei, known to the world now as the actor who played Lt. Commander Hikaru Sulu...
Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre
The Unspeakable Story Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre by Carole Boston Weatherford and Floyd Cooper is the true and accurate retelling of the most destructive and devastating...well, massacre is the only fitting word for it...in American history. Sparked by a...
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders (Harvey Milk)
Harvey Milk Changed the Culture Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag by Rob Sanders is a great book to introduce kids to LGBTQ history, legislation, and how one person can change a culture. Harvey Milk was one of the first openly gay politicians in...