African American Books

 History

Date Published:
Jan 2002

Trade Paperback
$18.95

A Complete History Of The Negro Leagues
 by Mark Ribowsky

In their heyday, the Negro Baseball Leagues were an important part of Black America, with games played between black teams drawing as many as 40,000 fans in some large cities, and casting its players in the role of celebrated heroes.

This concise history masterfully evokes these long-gone days with portraits of such Hall of Famers as Satchel Paige, Josh Gibson, and Cool Papa Bell, who played for teams like the Kansas City Monarchs, the Chicago American Giants, and the Pittsburgh Crawfords.

This book provides a window into the black culture of the times, reflecting the pride and the dreams of a people living under the shameful burden of segregation. It offers the story of this great American epic one that continues to fascinate today.

Date Published:
Nov 2002

Trade Paperback
$14.95

African American Firsts
 by Joan Potter

African Americans have been responsible for some of the most significant achievements in all areas of endeavor, from medicine, science and the arts, to business, law and government. Yet, these contributions are rarely included in books or taught in the classroom, thus denying African Americans their rightful place in a complete and accurate picture of our country's history.

Joan Potter has mined old document, records, letters, family histories and government files, and compiled a wonderful resource book that showcases the wide range of accomplishment among African Americans, often despite poverty and discrimination. Here are leaders in government, entertainment, education, science and medicine, the law, military, and in the business world. The entries, arranged by category, include brief biographies and are often accompanied by a photo or illustration.

Date Published:
April 2001

Paperback
$14.95

Fifty Black Women Who Changed America
 by Amy Alexander

“It is black women who are able to see out of their blackness, out of their womanness, often out of their poverty, and sometimes out of their privilege. So I believe it is going to be black women who will find the answers to many of the problems we face today.” —Johnnetta Cole, educator and former president of Spelman College.

Their names are familiar, yet their importance is often overlooked. These women are former slaves, housewives, college professors, Nobel and Pulitzer and National Book Award and Olympic Gold winners. And they are all survivors and women who emerged from servitude and discrimination to change the world. The vivid and inspiring portraits inside tell the story of each of these African American women’s personal journey and her monumental contributions to our society.

Date Published:
Jan. 2000

Trade paperback
$16.95

The Divine Nine
The History of African American
Fraternities & Sororities
by Lawrence C. Ross Jr.

America's black fraternities and sororities are a unique and vital part of 20th century African American history. Since the creation of the first fraternity in 1906 at Cornell University they have provided young black achievers with opportunities to support each other, while serving their communities and the nation. From pioneering work in the suffragette movement to extraordinary strides during the Civil Rights era to life-changing inner-city mentoring programs in the 1990s, members of these organizations share a proud and vital history of brotherhood, sisterhood, and service.

Today, America's nine black fraternities and sororities are two and one-half million members strong and among the most powerful and influential groups in African American society—with chapters at major universities and colleges across the country, including Stanford University, Howard University and University of Chicago. Many of America's most prominent business leaders, scientists, politicians, entertainers, and athletes took their first steps toward making a difference in the world in a fraternity or sorority. This extensive yet very accessible book celebrates the spirit of excellence shared by these and other renowned African Americans in brief, inspiring profiles.

Fully illustrated with photographs, The Divine Nine chronicles an important yet previously neglected subject in African American history, making it the first book of its kind, and one to be treasured for generations to come.