To Make Our World Anew: Volume II: A History of African Americans Since 1880

by Robin D.G. Kelley (Editor)

The two volumes of Kelley and Lewis's To Make Our World Anew integrate the work of eleven leading historians into the most up-to-date and comprehensive account available of African American history, from the first Africans brought as slaves into the Americas, right up to today's black filmmakers and politicians. This second volume covers the crucial post-Reconstruction years and traces the migration of blacks to the major cities. It describes the remarkable birth of the Harlem Renaissance, the hardships of the Great Depression, and the service of African Americans in World War II. Readers witness the struggle for Civil Rights in the 1950s and '60s and finally, the emergence of today's black middle class. Here is a panoramic view of African-American life, rich in gripping first-person accounts and short character sketches that invite readers to relive history as African Americans have experienced it.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

400 pages, Paperback

First published March 22, 2005

About the author

Robin Davis Gibran Kelley is an American historian and academic, who is the Gary B. Nash Professor of American History at UCLA.

Reviews

[Larry]

“To make our world anew” is an excellent survey of African American history. This book is a good choice for readers with a general knowledge of American history who are seeking to gain a deeper understanding of that multi-faceted history, specifically in this case with respect to the African American experience within it. The structure of the book also makes it a useful reference work for those looking to enhance or refresh their knowledge about particular time periods or aspects of African American history. See my entire review of the full, 1 volume version at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Weckea]

I read both volumes back-to-back across a month and a half. I'm impressed with how it's written to be accessible to all audiences and readers. If there is one criticism, given the many details and specific histories of many incidents and lived expereinces of black people in America, of the examples chosen to make certain points and explore some themes, perhaps the edits should have allowed the authors to explore a wide range of lesser known upheavals, barriers, and gains.

[Isabelle♡]

Read this for college and i’m so happy it’s over ! but it was really inspiring and informative about so much of african american history and how we came above so much that was forced upon us

[Kate]

The information provided by the multiple authors felt a little forced. I saw redundancies throughout the text and little emotion behind the written word. Lots of names, dates, locations, and organizational acronyms with little heart and soul behind it.

[Elizabeth]

you've got to be fkn kidding me.
what i learned from this book.
how long do you have, christ.

[Gwen]

Reading it for school but very interesting and well written.