The Small and the Mighty: Twelve Unsung Americans Who Changed the Course of History, from the Founding to the Civil Rights Movement by Sharon McMahon
In the face of struggle it sometimes feels like the odds are insurmountable and that we cannot make an impact on our own. But the people in The Small and the Mighty prove otherwise. Here are stories of individual Americans who faced significant obstacles and yet persevered to effect real change both in their communities and in the nation. Author Sharon McMahon, known as “America’s Government Teacher” through her popular podcast and Instagram feed, brings the stories of these everyday heroes to light in a series of engaging essays. Meet Virginia Randolph, whose contributions to African American education rivaled those of Booker T. Washington; Rebecca Brown Mitchell, who brought the vote to Idaho women years before the 19th Amendment; and Daniel Inouye, who distinguished himself as a hero during World War II, even as Japanese Americans were being imprisoned at home. These remarkable people, and many more, inspire pride in the spirit of America, and foster hope for the future with a reminder of how change begins: as a single spark.
Reviewed by Mary Kinser, collection development librarian, Whatcom County Library System
(Originally published in Bellingham Alive January 2025 issue.)