The Black Americans: A History in Their Own Words 1619-1983

by Milton Meltzer (editor)

A history of Black people in the United States, as told through letters, speeches, articles, eyewitness accounts, and other documents.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, African American

306 pages, Library Binding

First published September 1, 1984

About the author

Milton Meltzer wrote 110 books, five of which were nominated for the National Book Award. With Langston Hughes, he co-authored A Pictorial History of Black Americans, now in its sixth edition. He received the 2001 Laura Ingalls Wilder Award for his contribution to children's literature, the 1986 Jane Addams Peace Association Children's Book Award, and the 2000 Regina Medal. He died in New York City of esophageal cancer at age 94.

Reviews

[Krystie Herndon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hopefully, we'll see more and more books like this: primary documents, fleshing out a fuller picture of the centuries-old struggle of Black Americans to gain the stature and respect of full citizenship, as individuals and as a group of people. Some of these entries made me smile, but more of them made me want to cry, or tear my hair out in grief. The last document in this book, calling for more opportunities for minorities and the poor, was dated 1983--and it could have been written today, 37 years later. Ah, me, this should not be.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book. I wish that I had studied something like this in school. My favorite excerpt was ex-slave Jourdon Anderson's amazingly sarcastic letter to his extremely clueless former master. While there were excerpts from well-known figures like Frederick Douglass, W.E.B. DuBois, Dr. King and Maya Angelou, I also enjoyed the passages from regular people who related their stories.

[Britney · Rating 3 out of 5]

the book was about slaves back in the old days.They say that the slaves were never fed. all they could have was just bread or mushed things.The slave owners had more better things then the slaves had.Mostly the slaves had died from not having food.They were whupped,they were cused at.They couldent do anything.

[Kimberly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Primary documents for a Middle school or highschool audience which protray the other side of American History. I will use several of these documents in my ESOL Writing class.