African American Voices (African American Reference Library)

Excerpts from speeches by thirty-six personalities--including Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, and Clarence Thomas--give a wide range of perspectives on events, issues, and movements in African American history

Gr 5 Up--Excerpted speeches delivered by 36 figures in American history. The personalities included range from the expected, such as Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King, Jr., to those less well known, such as Henry Highland Garnet, one of the most militantly outspoken abolitionists of the 19th century, and Clarence Thomas, Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. The editors have chosen carefully and well, adhering to clear guidelines in order to present "a compelling array of African American thought and issues from the last two centuries." The guidelines themselves: "to encompass a wide range of perspectives and background...to be engaging and accessible to students...to provide first-hand--and often quite dramatic--insights into the key issues, events, and movements of African American history" testify to the care that has gone into making this an exciting as well as useful resource. The content is enhanced by supplementary material, including introductory information for each speaker, sidebars, black-and-white illustrations, and definitions of words and phrases as they appear in the speeches. African American Voices will add depth and quality to any reference collection.

Stephen Del Vecchio, The Family Academy, NY

Copyright 1997 Cahners Business Information, Inc.