Freedom Facts and Firsts: 400 Years of the African American Civil Rights Experience

by Jessie Carney Smith Ph.D., Linda T Wynn

Overview

Spanning nearly 400 years from the early abolitionists to the present, Freedom Facts and Firsts: 400 Years of the African American Civil Rights Experience profiles more than 400 people, places, and events that have shaped the history of the black struggle for freedom.

Covering such mainstay figures as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks as well as delving into how lesser known figures contributed to and shaped the history of civil rights, Freedom Facts and Firsts chronicles the breadth and passion of an entire people's quest for freedom. Among the inspiring stories found in this comprehensive resource are:

How the Housewives' League of Detroit started a nationwide movement to support black businesses, helping many to survive the Great Depression.

What effect the sports journalist Samuel Harold Lacy had on Jackie Robinson's historic entrance into the major leagues.

How the 9th and 10th Calvary and the 24th and 25th Infantry became known as the Buffalo Soldiers, a term of respect and endearment.

How Whoopi Goldberg survived poverty, drug addiction, single parenthood, and a welfare income and used her personal history to take a satirical look at social issues.

How world champion bicyclist Marshall “Major” Taylor was the first American-born black champion in any sport.

How in 1890 John Mercer Langston became the first black U.S. congressman elected from his native state of Virginia.

This inspiring resource offers an encouraging look at the historic struggles and triumphs of black men and women in politics, arts, music, journalism, law, social work and sports, the authors chart a full and inspiring history of African American activism!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781578591923
Publisher:	Visible Ink Press
Publication date:	01/01/2009
Series:	The Multicultural History & Heroes Collection
Pages:	408
Product dimensions:	7.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

Jessie Carney Smith is a noted African American studies scholar and a professor of humanities at Fisk University. She is the author of Black Firsts and Black Heroes. Linda T. Wynn is the assistant director for state programs at the Tennessee Historical Commission and a professor of history at Fisk University. They both live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Table of Contents

Introduction ix

Acknowledgments xiii

Foreword xv

Arts and Entertainment 1

Movements

Artists

Entertainers

Filmmakers

Films

Music

Music Entrepreneur

Singers

Literature

Writers

Civil Rights 23

Cities and Towns

Freedom Celebrations

Protests

Race Consciousness

Speeches

Education 81

Colleges and Universities

Integration of Colleges and Universities

Curriculum

Educators

School Desegregation

Protest Training School

Journalism 119

Journalists

Magazines

News Services

Newspapers

Law and Government 139

Attorneys

Civil Rights Commission

Civil Rights Laws and Cases

Executive Order

Federal Commission

Federal Officials and Intervention

The Military

Prisons

Resolutions

Organizations 195

Groups

Leaders

Political Activists 237

Abolitionists

Civil Rights Activists

Lynching Victim

Protest Letter

Religion 287

Churches

Leaders

Religious Education

Sports 315

Automobile Racing

Baseball

Basketball

Bowling

Boxing

Cycling

Football

Golf

Horse Racing

Olympics

Tennis

Sports Writers

Bibliography 349

Index 369

Editorial Reviews

"Written in a vivid and accessible style, this encyclopedia is highly recommended for high school, public, and community college libraries, where it will serve students well. . . . [U]nique effort that does equally well in libraries as it does in bookstores."— Library Journal

"Freedom Facts and Firsts is a valuable encyclopedic work covering the Black experience in the United States from 1619, when Africans were brought to Jamestown, Va., as "involuntary laborers," through the Civil Rights Movement and to the ascendancy of Barack Obama, the country's first African-American president."— Newark (NJ) Star Ledger

"An important addition to Black History Month booklists. From the early abolitionists to the presidential nomination of Barack Obama, the authors have gathered easy-to-read articles on the essential people, places, and events of the black struggle for freedom."— School Library Journal

"Hundreds of entries describe in detail the important people, dates, events, and places of the African American experience. This reference work is very beneficial to students completing research and useful for all ages."— VOYA

From the Publisher

This title is an inexpensive alternative to the more academic titles on black history that are currently on the market. It will be especially appreciated in school libraries, community college collections, and public libraries of all sizes.

American Reference Books Annual

An important addition to Black History Month booklists. From the early abolitionists to the presidential nomination of Barack Obama, the authors have gathered easy-to-read articles on the essential people, places, and events of the black struggle for freedom.

School Library Journal

A valuable encyclopedic work covering the Black experience in the United States from 1619 . . . through the Civil Rights Movement and to the ascendancy of Barack Obama, the country's first African-American president.

Newark Star Ledger

Edited and written in part by black studies scholar and university librarian Smith and historian Wynn, both at Fisk University, this one-volume encyclopedia documents African Americans' struggle for freedom, from the first slave in Jamestown, VA, in 1619 to 2008 presidential aspirant (now President-Elect) Barack Obama. The work is divided into nine chapters, with headings in alphabetical order that range from "Arts and Entertainment" and "Education" to "Organizations" and "Sports." Within each chapter, the entries-generally extending in length less than a page, a page, or a little more than a page-are further organized into subsections within chapters. The chapter on civil rights begins with a subsection ("Cities and Towns") featuring entries such as "black migration" and "Northern states." The book is replete with illustrations and photographs, while block quotes from entries are emphasized in larger point sizes and bolded. Major movements and events get greater treatment than biographies of individuals-a noteworthy strength of this work. In addition, entries on lesser-known individuals (e.g., activist William Still) are included beside those on more prominent figures like Sojourner Truth. It should also be noted that contributors are based in Tennessee.
—Kam W. Teo

Library Journal