Nevertheless, We Persisted: 48 Voices of Defiance, Strength, and Courage

A powerful collection of essays from actors, activists, athletes, politicians, musicians, writers, and teens, including Senator Amy Klobuchar, actress Alia Shawkat, actor Maulik Pancholy, poet Azure Antoinette, teen activist Gavin Grimm, and many, many others, each writing about a time in their youth when they were held back because of their race, gender, or sexual identity—but persisted.

"Aren't you a terrorist?" "There are no roles for people who look like you." "That's a sin." "No girls a...