From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement

"From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement" is a meticulously researched, award-winning exploration of a tragic event that marked a pivotal moment in racial justice and civil rights. Published on April 20, 2021, this gripping narrative by Paula Yoo brings to light the 1982 killing of Chinese American Vincent Chin in Detroit, amidst rising anti-Asian sentiment fueled by economic tensions. The subsequent lenient sentencing of the perpetrators led to widespread outrage and sparked a movement. Through court transcripts, news accounts, and interviews, Yoo not only recounts the chilling details of Chin’s death and the groundbreaking federal civil rights trial but also captures the emergence of a unified Asian American activist movement. This book is essential for middle-school readers seeking to understand the complexities of racial justice and the power of community advocacy in shaping American history.