The Black History of the White House (City Lights Open Media) [Paperback]

Clarence Lusane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 2011 | Series: City Lights Open Media

“Clarence Lusane is one of America’s most thoughtful and critical thinkers on issues of race, class and power.”—Manning Marable

"Barack Obama may be the first black president in the White House, but he's far from the first black person to work in it. In this fascinating history of all the enslaved people, workers and entertainers who spent time in the president's official residence over the years, Clarence Lusane restores the White House to its true colors." --Barbara Ehrenreich

The Black History of the White House presents the untold history, racial politics, and shifting significance of the White House as experienced by African Americans, from the generations of enslaved people who helped to build it or were forced to work there to its first black First Family, the Obamas.

Clarence Lusane juxtaposes significant events in White House history with the ongoing struggle for democratic, civil, and human rights by black Americans and demonstrates that only during crises have presidents used their authority to advance racial justice. He describes how in 1901 the building was officially named the “White House” amidst a furious backlash against President Roosevelt for inviting Booker T. Washington to dinner, and how that same year that saw the consolidation of white power with the departure of the last black Congressmember elected after the Civil War. Lusane explores how, from its construction in 1792 to its becoming the home of the first black president, the White House has been a prism through which to view the progress and struggles of black Americans seeking full citizenship and justice.

Dr. Clarence Lusane has published in The Washington Post, The Miami Herald, The Baltimore Sun, Oakland Tribune, Black Scholar, and Race and Class. He often appears on PBS, BET, C-SPAN, and other national media. The author of several books and former

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Lusane (Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice) returns to the nation's highest office in his latest work, tracing the seldom-revealed contributions of black men and women in the White House, from the days of its construction to the present. He meticulously threads personal stories of slaves, builders, chefs, jazz performers, policymakers, and other historic figures (accompanied by occasional portraits) with sharp analyses of leaders facing the criticism and challenges of their times. Whether considering slave-owning presidents who publicly skirted their participation in the practice, exploring Emancipation, Reconstruction, the Civil Rights movement and its aftermath, or discussing contemporary instances, like the Beer Summit, and questioning whether the Obama presidency signals a post-racial era, Lusane offers a vital addition to American history. The thorough density with which he approaches his subject may slow the pace, but scholars will find an intelligent account of one the most controversial and revered seats of power. Lusane's effort is much more than a catchy title or revisionist tome: it's an eye-opening tribute and a provocative reminder of the many narratives that have gone untold. Photos.
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From Booklist

Despite the racial progress represented by the election of the first black president of the U.S., the nation�s capital has a very complicated and often unflattering racial history. Lusane traces the racial history of the White House from George Washington to Barack Obama. He profiles slaves and free blacks who defied the barriers of racism, including Oney Judge and others owned by presidents who escaped to freedom; performers such as the enslaved musical prodigy known as Blind Tom, who performed at the White House; and Elizabeth Keckly, who served as seamstress and confidante to Mary Todd Lincoln. From the very beginning, the tension between the nation�s ideals and the practices of its leaders produced glaring contradictions: Washington�s deliberate circumvention of the law to hold on to slaves while living in Philadelphia, Lincoln�s struggle to keep a fractious nation together and come to terms with his own racial biases, and the struggle of others to balance party and political concerns against a burgeoning civil rights movement. A sweeping portrayal of changing historical tides at the White House. --Vanessa Bush

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Product Details

• Paperback: 544 pages
• Publisher: City Lights Publishers; 1 edition (January 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0872865320
• ISBN-13: 978-0872865327
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #51,779 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An important topic but too many issues..., September 8, 2011

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Cynthia K. Robertson (beverly, new jersey USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Black History of the White House (City Lights Open Media) (Paperback)

I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up The Black History of the White House by Clarence Lusane. Although this was a very ambitious effort, I think that Lusane tried to do too much here.

I did expect that Black History would contain personal stories of those black men and women affiliated with the White House, and these stories were quite good. I enjoyed reading about Hercules and Oney (George Washington's slaves), Elizabeth Keckley (Mary Lincoln's seamstress) and Abraham Boldon (the first black Secret Service agent to see in the White House). The story of Michelle Obama's slave ancestors is fascinating. And I enjoyed reading about the building of the White House. It is here that Lusane is at his best. Lusane also talks about the black leaders who visited the White House and black entertainers who were brought in for guests. He discusses the black advisors and cabinet members who served various presidents. He runs down the list of just about every black person who ran for president, and of course, he ends with Barack Obama. In between, he relates presidential policies about blacks, segregation, discrimination, lynching, Jim Crow, Supreme Court rulings and the Civil Rights movement. The author even includes a section on fictional black presidents in arts and literature. It was as if Lusane Googled black history in America and then tried to include anything and everything that appeared.

Although I enjoyed much of Black History, I had many issues with this book. First, it is filled with errors that should have been easy to catch. George Washington lived in the President's House in Philadelphia for 7 years, not 9. And he left Philadelphia at the end of his term, 1797, and not 1799. Lusane claims that Washington tried to hide his slaves while living in Philadelphia. Ron Chernow in Washington: A Life tells of Washington's financial ledgers that show he gave money to his Philadelphia slaves for outside entertaining. I don't think he would have done so if he was trying to keep them hidden. Black History is filled with many suppositions and assumptions such as "It is quite possible that she [Elizabeth Keckley] was the closest black person to him [Lincoln] during his presidency." I'm pretty certain that Lincoln was much closer to his black barber, William H. Johnson, whom he brought with him to Washington from Springfield. Johnson also served as his valet. Lusane sees discrimination behind every door. While the history of blacks in the United States is nothing to be proud of, he finds fault and insults where he shouldn't. After John Adams' first night in the White House, he offers up a prayer: "'I pray Heaven bestow the best of blessings on this house, and on all that shall hereafter inhabit it. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof.' He failed to acknowledge the black people whose years of work went into constructing the house." This was a prayer for the future and not a prayer of thanksgiving. Adams didn't acknowledge all the white people who toiled on the White House, either. Lusane goes into great detail about jazz and the history of jazz performers (black and white) who entertained in the White House. Yet, Truman's desegregating the military, a monumental event, merits only one short sentence that is not even noted in the index. Finally, Lusane gives too much information that is not necessary for the book. He tells us of Blind Tom Wiggins, the first black musician to entertain in the White House in the 1800s. But then he tells us about other black classical musicians who never set foot in the White House. This was unnecessary and made this book longer than it needed to be.

I think that The Black History of the White House is a very important topic and I was disappointed that this book wasn't better than it was. Personally, I think that Lusane should have narrowed his scope a little and tightened up his narrative. It would have made things less rambling and more organized.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A layman's viewpoint of an informative book, August 11, 2011

By 

Luchi1012 "Slowly building set" (Western U. S.A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Black History of the White House (City Lights Open Media) (Paperback)

This book is an eye opener. I am a layman, not a college professor, or a huge intellect...just a person that likes to read. It is a history book about African-Americans in relation to the White House, beginning with a slave who escaped from George Washington! The reasoning was amazing in this incident. Discusses slaves who built the White House and Black people who have worked as servants, and employees. Discusses several outstanding Black people that left a mark on history, even though they were slaves! Goes thru history of United States, presidency by presidency, and their ATTITUDES and TREATMENT and LAWS during each term. Tells about first Blacks invited to White House for special occasions and for entertainment. Covers all the way to President Obama. Very readable through most of it. Very eye opening. Wrote of many incidents in recent months which I read about in the news. Not perfect, a few things dragged a bit, but I'd give it 4.5 stars. I am very glad I read it. It opened my eyes and made me very conscious of a lot that is happening during this presidency. I highly recommend it. It had to have been painful for Dr. Lusane to do the research for this book. Our country definitely has a black eye when it comes to race relations.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Black Hisory of the Wwhite House (City Lights Open Media), June 23, 2011

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AJ - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Black History of the White House (City Lights Open Media) (Paperback)

If we had history text books like this when I was in high school and college, I would not have despised or disliked history as much as I did. This book is challenging to read and I am still reading it. I am enjoying every page of it. I hate I missed out on so much in the text books. Highly recommended!!!!