This book investigates the complex relationship between Black communities and urban development in America from the colonial era through the late 20th century. Kenneth L. Kusmer, a noted historian of urban and African American life, draws upon extensive archival research and secondary scholarship to trace the ways Black populations have shaped, and been shaped by, the growth and transformation of American cities. The work argues that Black agency and resistance were central to urban development, even in the face of systemic discrimination and disinvestment.

This work is recognized as a significant contribution to the study of urban history and African American studies, offering a comprehensive overview of Black experiences in American cities over more than two centuries. Scholars have noted its detailed research and its nuanced argument about Black agency within the context of urban development. The book is considered an essential resource for understanding the historical forces that have shaped contemporary Black urban communities.