Freedom: A Photographic History of the African American Struggle

by Manning Marable, Leith Mullings

From the bonds of slavery to the Civil Rights Movement, from the Deep South to the northern metropolises, from the Harlem Renaissance to the riots of South Central Los Angeles, Freedom tells of the African American struggle for equality from the first photographic records in nineteenth century all the way to the present. It is organized chronologically in five sections with introductory essays and narrative captions by noted scholars Manning Marable and Leith Mullings. The array and selection of photographs, many never seen before, reveal the journey in all its complexity and nuance, covering the struggle in its many different aspects - political, social, economic, and cultural. Highly relevant today, the photographs tell of the tremendous courage, determination, and power of a people fighting for a common goal.

Genres: History, Photography, Nonfiction

512 pages, Paperback

First published October 10, 2002

About the author

Manning Marable was an American professor of public affairs, history and African-American Studies at Columbia University. He founded and directed the Institute for Research in African-American Studies. He authored several texts and was active in progressive political causes. At the time of his death, he had completed a biography of human rights activist Malcolm X, entitled Malcolm X: A Life of Reinvention.

Reviews

[Benjamin Fasching-Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

At over 500 pages, there is room here for much more than the famous photographs... although there are plenty of those too. Marable's introductory essays and captions are great, acknowledging the work of radicals, communists and lesser-knowns. I thought that especially the role of women in the various groups and struggles was well represented. Normally these kind of histories do not take the time to explain, as Marable does, that women did most of the work in the movement.

Photographs of people in the marches or the riots or on the sidelines are for me more interesting than the pictures of leaders... there is more drama and more... realness... in those kind of pictures. The images of white people opposed to equality are among the most disturbing.

I think this is a great introduction to this part of US history, broad and detailed but the strongest thing about it is that the pictures hit you in a way that pure text wouldn't. It is easier to distance yourself from text than it is from a photograph.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the foremost photo-documentary about the Black experience in America that you will ever lay your eyes on, period. This maginificent book is also possibly the most comprehensive photographic journal of the civil rights movement that i have ever seen, and i thought i had seen and read them all. A note of caution, however: many images are extremely graphic, and a handful will bring you to tears. The captions are not only well-written, but they lend information which is far superior to prototypical coffee table fare. Sorry, but while i own the book, i would not lend it out over my dead body. You will either need to cough up the $50 well-spent dollars, or meet with me for coffee.

[Francesca Lenti · Rating 5 out of 5]

is it possible to give more than 5 stars?
cause this book does deserve more than that!