Landmarks of African American History
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Author Description
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.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates how thirteen specific geographic sites serve as physical manifestations of the broader struggles and contributions of African Americans to the development of the United States. James Oliver Horton, a distinguished historian specializing in African American history, utilizes these landmarks to anchor a narrative that spans from the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Jamestown to the civil rights movements of the twentieth century. By focusing on these tangible locations, the author argues that the national identity is inextricably linked to the history of its black citizens, framing these sites as essential touchstones for understanding the American experience.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Historical analysis of thirteen significant sites including Jamestown, the Old State House, Nicodemus, and the USS Arizona Memorial.
- Examination of the evolution of racial tensions within the United States military across different eras.
- Documentation of the transition from colonial slavery to the organized civil rights activism of the mid-twentieth century.
- Contextualization of individual events, such as the Greensboro sit-ins, within the larger framework of national social progress.
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Historians and educators frequently cite this work as a highly accessible entry point for understanding the intersection of geography and social history. The text is noted for its ability to synthesize complex historical narratives into a concise, site-specific format that remains engaging for both students and general readers.
Page Count:
208
Publication Date:
2005-03-24
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0195141180
ISBN-13:
9780195141184
History
Social History
United States
African Americans
