Landmarks of African American History (American Landmarks) [Hardcover]

James Oliver Horton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 24, 2005 | Series: American Landmarks

In Landmarks of African American History, James Oliver Horton chooses thirteen historic sites to explore the struggles and triumphs of African Americans and how they helped shape the rich and varied history of the United States. Horton begins with the first Africans brought to Jamestown, Virginia, and the start of slavery in the colonies that became the United States. Boston's Old State House provides the backdrop to the martyrdom of Crispus Attucks, the former slave killed in the Boston Massacre, the confrontation with British troops that led to the American Revolution. After the Civil War, former slaves settled the desolate area of Nicodemus, Kansas, and turned it into a thriving community. The USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, and Boston's Old State House illustrate African American contributions to the defense of their country and reveal racial tensions within the military. And the black students who demanded service at Woolworth's racially segregated lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, launched the sit-in movement and advanced the fight for civil rights. Horton brings together a wide variety of African American historical sites to tell of the glory and hardship, of the great achievement and determination, of the people and events that have shaped the values, ideals, and dreams of our nation.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 Up–African-American history has been approached in a number of ways, through cultural and social histories with atlases, biographies, and almanacs. Horton discusses 13 historic places, beginning with Jamestown, VA, and ending with the Woolworth department store in Greensboro, NC, the site of the first student sit-in in 1960. Clearly written and well organized, the text enriches the study of African-American history, providing a context and a look at its artifacts. Students can actually see the houses, courtrooms, or churches that mean so much to the historical narrative. Horton provides each place he includes with a historical overview and documents its significance. Well-placed illustrations of archival and current photographs and maps make for an attractive presentation. Students are apt to come away from this text with some interesting facts that they are not likely to forget. Landmarks may not be a first purchase, but it is a worthy addition.–Carol Jones Collins, Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ
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Review

"Clearly written and well organized, the text enriches the study of African-American history, providing a context and a look at its artifacts.... Well-placed illustrations of archival and current photographs and maps make for an attractive presentation. Students are apt to come away from this text with some interesting facts that they are not likely to forget.... A worthy addition."--School Library Journal

"The American Landmarks series is designed to tell the story from a unique perspective: the places where history was made. In each book, each chapter profiles a historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and each site is used as the centerpiece for discussion of a particular aspect of history."--American Landmarks

"Beautifully illustrated with color photographs, maps, and black-and-white illustrations, this outstanding volume serves as a superb guide to these sites, combining highly informative narrative with elegant layout. History-minded travelers well aware that not everything may be found on the web would be happy to carry it from place to place; students and researchers will appreciate the vast amount of information packed into a rather compact book. Highly recommended."--Library Journal

"Through essays of 13 historical sites chosen from the National Register of Historic Places, Horton explores the struggles and achievements of African Americans throughout the nation's history....Academic but accessible to the general reader."-- Reference and Research Library Book News

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (March 24, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195141180
• ISBN-13: 978-0195141184
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 6.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,630,852 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Resource, July 14, 2006

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M. F. Heubeck "politics junkie" (charlottesville, VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Landmarks of African American History (American Landmarks) (Hardcover)

This book is very helpful if you are teaching a course in American history or African-American studies. I used it specifically for the chapter on Jamestown and found it a good starting point for students.