The Black New Yorkers: The Schomburg Illustrated Chronology - Hardcover

Schomburg Center For Research In Black Culture

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0471297143 ISBN 13: 9780471297147

Publisher: Wiley, 1999

Synopsis

The Black New Yorkers The Schomburg Illustrated Chronology Experience 400 years of African American culture and achievement in America’s greatest city "The Black New Yorkers will no doubt prove to be a document for the ages: a timely, highly informative record of the significant and multifaceted enrichment provided by our forebears and contemporaries to the evolution of one of the world’s greatest cities." —Jessye Norman "This fascinating book says to the world that New York has been made great by the achievements of many people, including the black New Yorkers who have struggled here, who succeeded here, and who continue to work to make this city great." —H. Carl McCall "The Black New Yorkers: The Schomburg Illustrated Chronology is a book for all New Yorkers and for all Americans. It chronicles our story—the lives and times of people who for nearly four centuries have been creating a presence and a voice for themselves in the city, the nation, and the world." —Maya Angelou from her Foreword Featuring more than 200 striking photographs, rare documents, and vintage illustrations from the Schomburg’s world-famous collection, and packed with thousands of fascinating details, The Black New Yorkers offers an unparalleled view of African American life. Afterword by David Dinkins

About this title

About the Author

The SCHOMBURG CENTER FOR RESEARCH IN BLACK CULTURE of THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY is one of the world’s foremost research facilities devoted to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of materials documenting black life. From its founding in 1926 during the Harlem Renaissance, the Center has amassed holdings in excess of five million items.

From the Inside Flap

New York City has been the home of African Americans for four centuries. Blacks were among the founding fathers and mothers of pioneer colonial settlements in the future boroughs, and they have remained integral players in the teeming daily drama of the city. The Black New Yorkers: The Schomburg Illustrated Chronology recreates this unique relationship between a people and a city, and through it chronicles the worldwide African American struggle for freedom and human dignity. This richly produced volume offers a monumental assembly of powerful images and engrossing text that narrates the African American odyssey from colonial times to the present day. In these pages, you’ll explore all the driving forces and seminal events in each era, from Colonial New York and the Revolutionary War, through the progress and turmoil of the nineteenth century, to the turbulence and accomplishments of the twentieth century. In highly detailed, year-by-year entries, you’ll gain insights into familiar events and discover lesser-known but important other facts about these topics and more: Politics: from the laws that whittled away black freedoms in colonial times to the civil rights victories of our own day; from the Tenderloin race riot and the Pan-African Congress to the Million Youth March; from Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth to Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X. Business and Labor: from free fur-traders and enslaved workers who built houses, roads, and bridges; to the rise of small businesses and the real estate boom in Harlem; to the ascent of entrepreneurs and corporate titans such as Ed Lewis, Earl G. Graves, and Kenneth I. Chenault. The Arts: from nineteenth-century Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge and celebrated soprano Sissieretta Jones to Langston Hughes and Zora Neale Hurston of the Harlem Renaissance; as well as Paul Robeson, Lena Horne, Alvin Ailey, Spike Lee, and LL Cool J. Sports: from great jockey Isaac Murphy, cycling champ Marshall "Major" Taylor, and baseball legend John Henry "Pops" Lloyd—said to be the greatest player ever—to tennis star Althea Gibson, Jackie Robinson, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Resonant with tales of trial, courage, and triumph, vibrant with portraits of both famous and humble history-makers, The Black New Yorkers is a sweeping, powerful record of the richly diverse heritage of African Americans in the capital of black America. It is a perfect reference for the serious student of history and a browser’s delight for every reader interested in the black experience. The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library is one of the world’s fore most research facilities devoted to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of materials documenting black life. From its founding in 1926 during the Harlem Renaissance, the Center has amassed holdings in excess of five million items.

Reviews

These two volumes, both sponsored by the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, concentrate on the black experience in America. In Black New Yorkers, Dodson, director of the Schomburg, and his coauthors trace the history of blacks in New York from 1613 to 1998, detailing the various voices, religions, and cultures that existed, then and now. The Desk Reference offers valuable information on topics such as civil rights, business, religion, and health, presenting it with charts, tables, time lines, and numerous other visual aids. (LJ 9/15/99)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0471297143
• ISBN 13: 9780471297147
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 470