African American Studies

In Nature Knows No Color-Line, historian Joel Augustus Rogers examines the origins of racial hierarchy and the color problem. Rogers was a humanist who believed that there were no scientifically evident racial divisions--all humans belong to one "race."...

Illuminates the far-reaching harms of believing that natural means "good," from misinformation about health choices to justifications for sexism, racism, and flawed economic policies. People love what's natural: it's the best way to eat, the best way to...

Illuminates the far-reaching harms of believing that natural means "good," from misinformation about health choices to justifications for sexism, racism, and flawed economic policies. People love what's natural: it's the best way to eat, the best way to...

A wonderful and inspiring collection of eloquent prose, beautiful poetry and ancestral wisdom from Chiefs, Medicine Men and ordinary members of many Native American tribes. Although there are major differences in the lifestyles of the numerous Native...

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is an 1845 memoir and treatise on abolition written by famous orator and former slave Frederick Douglass during his time in Lynn, Massachusetts. It is generally held to be the most famous of a number of...

Introduction by Kwame Anthony Appiah Commentary by Jean Fagan Yellin and Margaret Fuller This Modern Library edition combines two of the most important African American slave narratives--crucial works that each illuminate and inform the other. ...

An updated edition of a classic African American autobiography, with new supplementary materials A Penguin Vitae Edition The preeminent American slave narrative first published in 1845, Frederick Douglass's Narrative powerfully details the life of the...

A new Vintage Classics edition of the abolitionist leader's classic autobiography. This dramatic autobiography of the early life of an American slave was first published in 1845, when its young author had just achieved his freedom. Frederick Douglass's...

Narrative of Sojourner Truth, A Northern Slave is a powerful, landmark narrative originally published in 1850 by abolitionist and preacher Sojourner Truth, who was born a slave in 1797 in rural New York. Truth was a nationally recognized proponent of...

A casually wondrous experience; it made me feel like the city was unfolding beneath my feet." --Jia Tolentino, author of Trick Mirror In place-names lie stories. That's the truth that animates this fascinating journey through the names of New York City's...

Why didn't the ancient Greeks or Romans wear pants? How did they shave? How likely were they to drink fine wine, use birth control, or survive surgery? In a series of short and humorous essays, Naked Statues, Fat Gladiators, and War Elephants explores...