The African-American Odyssey is a compelling story of agency, survival, struggle and triumph over adversity. The authors highlight what it has meant to be black in America and how African-American history is inseparably woven into the greater context of American history. The text provides accounts of the lives of ordinary men and women alongside those of key African-Americans and the impact they have had on the struggle for equality to illuminate the central place of African-Americans in U.S. history more than any other text.
A stunning example of everything a history book should be. It includes plenty of primary sources, maps, graphs and brief life sketches of significant historical figures. This book shows that African-American history is important not just to African Americans but all Americans. It begins with a survey of pre-slave trade Africa. I took a class on African history, and this book included information that was overlooked even in that class. It ends with the election of President Obama and statistics on black America. In between it covers artists, scientists, politicians, lawyers, preachers, poets, musicians, inventors and more. It covers every significant period and event of US history with its bearing on black America.
Each chapter ends with a list of books on the covered topics and a list of historical sites you can visit that relate to the chapter. I would encourage anyone interested in African-American history to begin with this textbook and branch out from there.
This is an excellent textbook. I am presently using it as a required reading in one of my classes. The book provides a thorough overview of African American history from a good discussion of pre-colonial Africa, all the way through the 21st century in the United States. The text focusses on the men, women, and groups that helped define African American history. I truly enjoy the work of the scholar Darlene Clark Hine, and many of her other endeavors. This is a gem of a book, and I am very proud to use it in my class.