America, Amerikkka: Exploring Religion and Violence in American History - Book for Cultural Studies & Social Analysis

This was required reading for my religion and politics class, and I think that it was a good choice. Another reviewer stated how many positive American movements were glossed over or ignored completely; this book is not about the good side of America. I know many people who grow up learning how the 'Pilgrims and Native Americans helped each other out' (you know, the early elementary school 'lessons'), but never really learn the other side of things, or don't care. This may vary greatly from school to school, depending how good or bad the curriculum is. But as a whole, Americans think we are wonderful and can name many wonderful things that we have done. This book is not about that. It is strictly about the other side of the story. The things we don't often learn, or prefer to ignore. I don't see the spelling of "Amerikkka" as a hint that we are racist, but as a clever way of pointing out that there is the good American history, and then the history of the very terrible and stupid things we have done (such as forming the KKK).I agree that this book is heavily biased toward the negative (seeing as how that is the point of the book, in my opinion), but it does provide some good information with strong supporting evidence for most chapters. I think it is best coupled with another book that fills in the gaps and does bring to light the good things in American history. It's all about balance so that the reader may form his or her own opinions.