Cultural Literature

Intimate, in-depth portraits, interviews, and essays of America's black leaders--from the founding of the nation and Frederick Douglass to the 2008 presidential race and Barack Obama. Each figure is interconnected with the next, exploring themes of...

Through in-depth analysis, detailed transcriptions and album references, author John Ramsay gives us an insider's view of Art Blakey's unique drumming style. The book includes examples of Art's philosophies and wisdom as told by some of the great alumni...

Kathryn Willcock and her sisters grew up in logging camps on the coast of B.C. in the 1960s when children were set loose to play in the wilderness, women kept rifles next to the wood stove, and loggers risked their lives every single day. The author's...

A comprehensive and challenging look at the significance of the Bible for blacks, and the importance of blacks in the Bible. "Timely . . . serious and creative."--The Catholic Journal.

The electrifying sounds of groovin' jump blues, Southern-fried rock 'n' roll, fervent black gospel, and the simmering sounds of the Louisiana swamp came bursting out of Nashville, Tennessee in the early 1950s courtesy of Excello Records and its sister...

Learning from Black voices means listening to more than snippets. It means attending to Black stories. Reading Black Books helps Christians hear and learn from enduring Black voices and stories as captured in classic African American literature.Pastor...

Few Americans know the history-changing story of the men of the USS Mason, the only African-American sailors to take a World War II warship into combat. At a time when most blacks in the Navy were relegated to stewards or laborers, the crew of the USS...

From a nationally recognized expert, a fresh and original argument for bettering affirmative action Race-based affirmative action had been declining as a factor in university admissions even before the recent spate of related cases arrived at the...

The landmark story of how interracial love and marriage changed American history--and continues to alter the landscape of American politics When Mildred and Richard Loving wed in 1958, they were ripped from their shared bed and taken to court. Their...

A glimpse into the legacy of the "chief of chiefs." Robert Nathanial Lee, known as Chief Robbe, was the first and only person to be named "chief of chiefs" by the Mardi Gras Indian Council. From his birth in 1915, Chief Robbe faced hardship and...

Boogie, blues, ragtime, swing and other jazz styles are irresistible to most pianists, but not always accessible to student pianists. Composer Robert Vandall has removed all barriers to successful student performances, by making sure that each jazzy solo...

The first biography of soul pioneer Isaac Hayes, whose groundbreaking music provided the foundation for hip-hop and a new racial paradigm. "Black men could finally stand up and be men because here's Black Moses; he's the epitome of Black masculinity...