People’s Stories

The People's Stories: Critical Storytelling for Social Justice explores the power and impact of storytelling on societal and individual worldviews. It examines the social implications of storytelling, the creation and perpetuation of social hierarchies through narratives, and the use of counterstories to challenge dominant, oppressive narratives. Students learn how the stories told by those in power who want to preserve their power often work to marginalize other communities.

Over the course of seven chapters, students read about various topics such as the power of story, the interplay between power and storytelling, critical theory and critical race theory, critical storytelling in creative writing, and critical storytelling within academic discourse. Each chapter includes a Writer's Lab section that focuses on specific writing techniques, a Reading and Responding section that features articles written by experts in the field, and a Thinking and Writing section that includes writing prompts for practical application.

The People's Stories is an ideal resource for undergraduate composition courses, aiming to enhance students' reading and writing skills while fostering an understanding of social inequalities. It is particularly suitable for courses with a focus on critical theory, critical race theory, social justice, and narrative analysis.