Black Saga: The African American Experience: A Chronology (Paperback)

by Charles M. Christian (Author) "In West Africa three great empires - Ghana, Mali, and Songhai - emerged between A.D. 500 and 1600..." (more)
Key Phrases: reported lynched, fair share agreements, white family income, New York, South Carolina, African American (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

More than 500 years of history are brought to life in this illustrated encyclopedia, whose panoramic scope offers a vivid, definitive chronology of the African-American experience. Black Saga is a remarkably comprehensive reference book that highlights the key issues and accomplishments of African American from the late fifteenth century through the present. The people, places, and events that created black America are presented in brief entries arranged in chronological order. Sidebar articles interspersed throughout the text analyze the demographic, social, economic, and political conditions that affected blacks-calling particular attention to the efforts of African Americans to win freedom, respect, and improved prospects for a promising future in a country that often took the most extreme measures to deny them basic rights.The four-century trajectory of Black Saga is punctuated with the accomplishments of famous figures and unsung heroes: the poetry of Phillis Wheatley, the music of William Still, the industrial inventions of Jan Matzeliger, the business acumen of Madame C. J. Walkre, the sensational plays and home runs of Jackie Robinson, the political skills and power of Adam Clayton Powell, and the movies of Spike Lee.Practical and attractive, Black Saga is a great sourcebook for students from high school through college, and a valuable addition to any home reference library. The book includes more than 230 illustrations-many of them rare

Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Basic Civitas Books (December 24, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1582430004
• ISBN-13: 978-1582430003
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #984,671 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Black Saga is a treasure., July 15, 1999

By A Customer

Black Saga is a book I turn to constantly when doing research for my books. I imagine I would cherish this book even if I weren't a writer. It is intelligent, compelling, and so comprehensive. It should be in every home and in every school--wherever there are learners and lovers of history.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a very comprehensive timeline, May 10, 2002

By	Wolf Boy (Mpls, MN USA) - See all my reviews

A 600+ page chronology, year by year, of the black experience in America - from the first records of Africans on the continent onwards. If you have more than a passing interest in Black Studies, then this is an enriching resource. The entries are dense with information and well-written enough to be compelling to the casual peruser.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perhaps the best and most comprehensive book of its kind., October 7, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Black Saga: The African American Experience (Hardcover)

The book is one of the most rigorous and comprehensive presentations of the African American experience published. Arranged chronologically with social, economic, political, and demographic overviews for each decade, the book is the most unintimidating resources for learning about the African American experience. Black Saga is more than Black history; it is the African American experience. It is more than a chronology; it is more than 600 pages of compelling presentation of a rich part of American history. A "Must Read" for any person who wants to know about the African American experience. It, too, is essential reading for all students of the African American experience. The richness of Black Saga has spawned a "Black Saga Competition" which engages elementary and middle school students to learn more about the African American experience and to compete as teams to determine who knows most about the African American experience. Your web experience will expose you to the many testimonials by teachers, principals, parents, and students, and you will see what Henry Louis Gates, Jr. at Harvard University and Gregory Kane of the Baltimore Sun says about Black Saga. There is a quiz in the webpage that might help you understand how much you know about the African American experience. Dr. Christian says the book and the competition is all about educating the American population about the African American experience, and helping to ensure that this rich part is included in our American history.