History

"Straightforward handling of.. . voodooism in all its manifestations."--Kirkus ReviewsOriginally published in 1946, this intriguing book examines the rites and beliefs associated with voodoo through the legends of the art--its charms, trances, rituals,...

The epic history of African American women's pursuit of political power -- and how it transformed America. In the standard story, the suffrage crusade began in Seneca Falls in 1848 and ended with the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment in 1920. But...

"[A] riveting and timely exploration of Hamer's life. . . . Brilliantly constructed to be both forward and backward looking, Blain's book functions simultaneously as a much needed history lesson and an indispensable guide for modern activists."--New York...

What are the right questions to ask when seeking out the spirit of a nation? In November, 2017, the people of Zimbabwe took to the streets in an unprecedented alliance with the military. Their goal, to restore the legacy of Chimurenga, the liberation...

As seen on the Today Show: This true story of an unforgettable mother, her devoted daughter, and their life in the Detroit numbers of the 1960s and 1970s highlights the outstanding humanity of black America (James McBride).In 1958, the very same year...

The Souls of Black Folk is both a groundbreaking work of sociology and an influential cornerstone of African-American literature. From the moment it was published in 1903, this unique and stirring blend of history, essay, fiction, and memoir set the...

"A Roots for a new generation, rich in storytelling and steeped in history." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review "A compelling saga that gives a voice to those that history tried to erase . . . Poignant and eye-opening, this is a must-read." --Booklist In...

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks meets Get Out in this "startling...powerful" (Kirkus Reviews) investigation of racial inequality at the core of the heart transplant race. In 1968, Bruce Tucker, a black man, went into Virginia's top research...

In the segregated US of the mid-twentieth century, African-American travelers could have a hard time finding towns where they were legally allowed to stay at night and hotels, restaurants, and service stations willing to serve them. In 1936, Victor Hugo...

Generally held to be the most famous piece written by a former slave, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is a memoir on abolition written by the famous orator. First published in 1845, the memoir set the tone for the American abolitionist...

A graphic novel biography of the escaped slave, abolitionist, public speaker, and most photographed man of the nineteenth century, based on his autobiographical writings and speeches, spotlighting the key events and people that shaped the life of this...

The most comprehensive anthology of primary sources available, spanning the entire history of the American civil rights movement. A record of one of the greatest and most turbulent movements of this century, The Eyes on the Prize Civil Rights Reader is...

The Book of African Proverbs collects over 1,200 of the best, most profound and illuminating proverbs from Africa, its nations and its people. Back in the 19th century, Africa was often referred to as the Dark Continent in the sense that Africa's culture...

A USA Today Must-Read for Black History Month An unprecedented visual history of African women told in striking and subversive historical photographs--featuring an Introduction by Edwidge Danticat and a Foreword by Jacqueline Woodson. Most of us grew up...

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY: Los Angeles Times - San Francisco Chronicle -Chicago Tribune - The Christian Science Monitor - Publishers Weekly In Strength in What Remains, Tracy Kidder gives us the story of one man's inspiring American...

Men and women who carried the mantle of African healing and spirituality in the Mid-South were frequently accused and attacked for their misunderstood culture. The same healers and spiritual workers feared by outsiders were embraced and revered by familie