The African-American Century: How Black Americans Have Shaped Our CountryOne hundred original profiles of the most influential African-Americans of the twentieth century. Without Louis Armstrong or Miles Davis, we would not have jazz. Without Toni Morrison or Ralph Ellison, we would miss some of our greatest novels. Without Dr. King or Thurgood Marshall, we would be deprived of political breakthroughs that affirm and strengthen our democracy. Here, two of the leading African-American scholars of our day, Henry Louis Gates, Jr., and Cornel West, show us why the twentieth century was the African-American century, as they offer their personal picks of the African-American figures who did the most to shape our world. This colorful collection of personalities includes much-loved figures such as scientist George Washington Carver, contemporary favorites such as comedian Richard Pryor and novelist Alice Walker, and even less-well-known people such as aviator Bessie Coleman. Gates and West also recognize the achievements of controversial figures such as Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and rap artist Tupac Shakur. Lively, accessible, and illustrated throughout, The African-American Century is a celebration of black achievement and a tribute to the black struggle for freedom in America that will inspire readers for years to come. |
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THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN CENTURY: How Black Americans Have Shaped Our Country
User Review - KirkusGates (Identities) and West (Race Matters, 1993, etc.) have compiled over 100 essays of mostly biographical material on some fairly well-known figures in the arts, military life, sports, civil rights ... Read full review
The African-American century: how Black Americans have shaped our country
User Review - Not Available - Book VerdictThe 20th century witnessed both the transformation of black life in the United States and blacks' transformation of life in the United States. Focusing on 100 extraordinary personalitiesDten in each ... Read full review
Contents
19201929 | 78 |
Josephine Baker | 85 |
Marcus Garvey | 95 |
Ernest Everett Just | 105 |
Jean Toomer | 112 |
19401949 | 152 |
Duke Ellington | 159 |
Lena Home | 169 |
Adam Clayton Powell Jr | 178 |
Jackie Robinson | 186 |
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Adam F African African-American Ailey American Century Armstrong artist awarded band became began Bert Williams Bessie Bessie Smith Bethune black American Black Culture blues Booker born Brown career Chicago church civil rights Club Coleman College color Coltrane Cosby dance dancer Davis death died Duke Ellington Dunham Ellison father fight film Garvey graduated Harlem Henson high school Hurston Jackson James jazz Jelly Jesse Owens Johnson Joplin Jordan Josephine Baker Katherine Dunham King later Lawrence leaders League lived Louis Louis Armstrong Malcolm Marian Anderson Medal Micheaux Miranda Pyne mother moved movement musicians NAACP National Negro opera Owens paintings Paul Robeson performed played player political popular Powell President race racial racism ragtime Ralph Ellison record Robeson Robinson segregation singing social songs South Tanner theater University voice W. E. B. Du Bois Walker Washington Williams Winkfield woman women Woodson writing wrote York young
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Bibliographic information
| Title | The African-American Century: How Black Americans Have Shaped Our Country A Touchstone book |
| Authors | Henry Louis Gates, Cornel West |
| Editor | Cornel West |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Simon and Schuster, 2002 |
| ISBN | 0684864150, 9780684864150 |
| Length | 432 pages |
| Subjects | › › Biography & Autobiography / Cultural Heritage Biography & Autobiography / Cultural, Ethnic & Regional / General History / Modern / 20th Century History / United States / 20th Century Social Science / Ethnic Studies / African American Studies |
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