From Africa to America: African American History from the Colonial Period to the Early Republic, 1526-1790 (African American History Series) [Paperback]

William D. Piersen (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Piersen has an agenda, which he clearly states in the preface: he wishes to provide a more balanced and less "Anglo-centric" perspective of the first two centuries of the post^-Colombian American experience. Fortunately, Piersen's agenda doesn't interfere with his objectivity, standards of scholarship, or ability to tell a story with fairness, compassion, and eloquence. The result is an engrossing and thorough survey replete with surprises and tantalizing speculations. His analysis of how the institution of indentured servitude evolved into chattel slavery when linked with racism is both fascinating and appalling. His chronicles of early slave insurrections and African American efforts on behalf of abolition are rarely available in more general histories of the period. As a vital prelude, Piersen provides a cogent description of the social and political structure of West African kingdoms in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. This is an excellent contribution to the growing volume of ethnic historical surveys, and it will also enrich our knowledge of the broad sweep of American history. Jay Freeman --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 206 pages
• Publisher: Twayne Publishers; 1 edition (August 20, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805739033
• ISBN-13: 978-0805739039
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,275,871 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Refreshing perspective on Africans in America, April 12, 2010

By 

G. N. Carter (Oakland, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: From Africa to America: African American History from the Colonial Period to the Early Republic, 1526-1790 (African American History Series) (Paperback)

This book is a refreshing change not only from Euro-centrism, but from Anglo-centrism. It is not an in depth study of African American history, but it departs from many such works by discussing the African background from which African slaves were thrust into the Atlantic trade. Many of these histories start with the British North American colonies when reporting African American history, but this one starts with African history, then discusses the Spanish interactions with African slaves in North America, and moves on to British colonial attitudes toward Africans. It is a very refreshing Afro-centric overview of the history of Africans in America from before the British settled in North America up to the founding of the United States.