Customer Reviews

Black Men Built the Capitol: Discovering African-American History In and Around Washington, D.C.

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I enjoyed this book and learned a lot about Washington, DC that I had never known before. Mr. Holland writes with a light, easy-to-read style but his content is anything but light. Holland moved to DC only to discover that histories made little mention of the African-American contributions to our nation's capital. So he set out to change that, and this book is the result.
Each page uncovers new facts about how 'black men built the capitol', as well as the 'capital'. What makes this an indispensable guidebook is that Holland starts each section with the standard history of an area or landmark and then gives the reader the 'rest of the story', adding the African-American perspective. If you are looking for a book to teach you about DC, a fascinating city by any standard, this is a good one. If you are looking for a book to learn about DC from an African-American perspective, this is a great one.

I lived in DC for nine years, and thought I knew it well. Jesse Holland showed me, a white American who has a degree in history, just how little I actually knew.

Valuable, entertaining, and should be in every history classroom in the DC area.

Illustrated with maps and photos, including a section of color photos.

Rob Morris, author of Untold Valor: Forgotten Stories of American Bomber Crewmen Over Europe in World War Two.

As a resident of Washington, DC, and one who has visited many of the attractions highlighted in Black Men Built the Capitol, I was amazed by all the new information I gleaned from this book. I learned something new on every page! I am a children's book author who loves history and a former journalist. I found it nothing but pure joy to read this book and discover so much more about black contributions to American and world history. Jesse Holland did his homework, and he did it well. Every American home and every American classroom, from elementary school to college, ought to have this book.

This historial book about the accomplishments of African-Americans in the building of this nation reads more as a novel than a historical book. It gives interesting facts about African American history not only in the era of the building of Washington D.C. but of this nation in a whole. As the author, Jesse Holland states, the nation's history is incomplete without the mention of the African-American contributions. The book covers the Washington D.C. area and it points out the many African-American historial places and facts in D.C. that aren't on the regular tours.

This is a wonderful book. Jesse writes with a reporter's eye for detail and action, making the history fly off the pages. Even non history buffs like me will really enjoy this book, because it really is an assembly of great STORIES! Oh and by the way- you will learn alot about the history of the United States, not the Black History, but our collective history. It's something to take pride in and to share. Bravo- Jesse! Keep on writing!

This book is more than a book of research findings arranged by topic. What you find within these pages is an encouraging letter from an insightful author about the joy of discovery and the fruits of knowing. Wording that not only highlights accomplishment, but longevity of accomplishment by a people for which much time and effort was spent on trying to make them believe they didn't have what it takes to deliver. The author has used a relaxed tone and casual, descriptive wording that is neither boastful or redemptive. Yet, the work offers hope by way of a fact-filled tour of a city that we never knew held so much of each of us. It is a sweet and sensitive wake up call for present and future generations without accusation or condemnation.

Jesse Holland has done a fabulous job researching this material on African American history around the Nation's capitol. The compilation of this material reaffirms the importance of African Americans in the building of the Nation. I thank him for finding and sharing these facts in a way that is both educational and easy to read. I hope to see more books by this great author.

Bravo for excellent Black History data! I enjoyed reading information that has been kept out of mainstream history books. I had the opportunity to attend his book signing in Holly Springs, MS that was well attended. Again, BRAVO!

I just vacationed in the nation's capital, Washington, D.C. in July 2011, but this book has me hungry for another journey to Washington, D.C. My next visit will be with another perspective and will take me along a tour customized by the historical sites noted in this book. Hopefully, I will also be able to travel to the historical areas discussed in Virginia and Maryland...lots to cover and appreciate.