A Black Perspective of American History

By Leon Dixon, Gerald Hynes, and Carolyn Gaines Nelson

INTRODUCTION

This endeavor is an attempt to show how the events and flow of American history affected and were effected by Black people. It is written from a Black perspective. It is hoped that the reader will discern trends and patterns, such as, how Black folks were co-opted to deal with certain events and issues and were ruthlessly discarded when they were no longer beneficial (e.g. reconstruction, populist movement, and all of the major wars). It should also be noted how the Black population enlarged in certain areas of the country as laborers were needed (e.g. the ante-bellum south, the northern ghettos during the world wars).

Moreover, as population patterns changed, so too did life styles. Notice how the ghettos gave rise to new Black art and culture (e.g. big city blues, rhythm & blues, jazz, poetry, essays, etc.). Also, it should be ascertained how the growth of the northern Black population affected the politics, sociology, and economics of the country.

In addition to this, special attention should be paid to the cause and effects that the economy and economics of the times had on Black folks.

It is hoped that this undertaking can provide for teachers and parents basic reference material for helping to include the causes, effects, and contributions of Black folk throughout American history.

We have not tried to profile any persons, but rather dealt with trends and social phenomena.

Realizing full well that this work is not all encompassing, it is hoped that a desire to further investigate the African American's history will be induced into the reader.

                     CONTENTS

  1. Prior to the American Revolution
  2. American History Through 1800
  3. Slave Revolts, Insurrection, and Conspiracies
  4. The Ante-Bellum South
  5. The Causes of the Civil War
  6. The Civil War
  7. The Involvement of Blacks in the Civil War
  8. Post Civil War/Reconstruction
  9. Black Participation in Reconstruction
  10. A Few Words About Black Cowboys
  11. Post Reconstruction up to World War I
  12. The Causes Leading up to World War I
  13. The Effects of World War I
  14. The Roaring Twenties
  15. The Depression to World War II
  16. World War II
  17. Post World II to the Seventies

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