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Richard Allen: An Apostle of Freedom
300 pages, Paperback
Published June 1, 2000
8 people want to read
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May 6, 2021
The authors of the book Black Power wrote that black Americans have been victims of 'cultural terrorism' and do not know their own history. The authors stated that 'it is the duty of a free people to claim their history.' And yet this biography of Richard Allen by one of the most preeminent black American historians of all time is out of print and not available for purchase. The one and only copy of the book available on Amazon.com, as of today, has a price tag of $1,200.00 (it is signed by the author). My heart bleeds for my people.
Charles H Wesley was the fourth black American to earn a PhD from Harvard University. He served as president of two universities. He was the first Director of the African American Museum in Philadelphia. His life was devoted 100% to black America. His scholarship is unmatched. His life was unmatched. How can we possibly maintain a history, if we neglect the foundational histories, which were written by the most competent historians? Anyone who has read two or three of Wesley's books knows that he was the arguably most competent black American historian who ever lived.
Wesley acclaimed Bishop Richard Allen as 'the father of the Negro people.' It is impossible in this review to place that statement into context because (1) there is not space to recount the enormity of Allen's leadership and success, (2) as it would be also necessary to convince the reader that black Americans played a very crucial role in their own successful struggle toward freedom beginning more than 40 years before the Civil War began. Black Americans do not know that and can not be proud of a history they do not know.
Given the virtual disappearance of this book, it is a horrible thing to say, but the truth is that this book is arguably the most important book ever written about a black American. I wish that I were wrong, because of the embarrassment that comes with that. I wish that the authors of Black Power were wrong. I would give my kingdom for them to be wrong (but not my copy of Wesley's biographical treatment of Bishop Richard Allen ).
Charles H Wesley was the fourth black American to earn a PhD from Harvard University. He served as president of two universities. He was the first Director of the African American Museum in Philadelphia. His life was devoted 100% to black America. His scholarship is unmatched. His life was unmatched. How can we possibly maintain a history, if we neglect the foundational histories, which were written by the most competent historians? Anyone who has read two or three of Wesley's books knows that he was the arguably most competent black American historian who ever lived.
Wesley acclaimed Bishop Richard Allen as 'the father of the Negro people.' It is impossible in this review to place that statement into context because (1) there is not space to recount the enormity of Allen's leadership and success, (2) as it would be also necessary to convince the reader that black Americans played a very crucial role in their own successful struggle toward freedom beginning more than 40 years before the Civil War began. Black Americans do not know that and can not be proud of a history they do not know.
Given the virtual disappearance of this book, it is a horrible thing to say, but the truth is that this book is arguably the most important book ever written about a black American. I wish that I were wrong, because of the embarrassment that comes with that. I wish that the authors of Black Power were wrong. I would give my kingdom for them to be wrong (but not my copy of Wesley's biographical treatment of Bishop Richard Allen ).
Displaying 1 of 1 review