We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court

When dealing with bullies’ racist slurs as a youth, Chinese American musician Simon Tam (b. 1981) believed that “taking ownership of a stereotype gave him power.” After giving up a college scholarship to pursue rock music, he formed an all–Asian American band, naming the group “The Slants” in order to give the phrase “a new meaning.” After the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied Tam’s application, determining the band’s name to be racist, Tam, finding the denial discriminatory and inspired by the Asian American community that felt empowered by his music, took the fight to the Supreme Court. While a couple of pages could use further context, Wenjen clearly centers Tam’s story on the power of words to combat injustice, while Gómez’s limited-palette, grainy-textured art emphasizes Tam’s emotional journey. Statements from Tam and the author conclude. Ages 8–12. (Oct.)