 The Souls of Black Folk
by W. E. B. Du Bois
This landmark in the literature of black protest eloquently affirms that it is beneath the dignity of a human being to beg for those rights that belong inherently to all mankind.
|  |
| |  Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
by Frederick Douglass
The impassioned abolitionist and eloquent orator provides graphic descriptions of his childhood and horrifying experiences as a slave as well as a harrowing record of his dramatic escape to the North and eventual freedom. A selection of the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
| |
|
 Up from Slavery
by Booker T. Washington
Washington (1856-1915) rose to become the most influential spokesman for African-Americans of his day. In this eloquently written book, he describes events in a remarkable life that began in bondage and culminated in worldwide recognition.
| |
| |  The Life of Olaudah Equiano
by Olaudah Equiano
The journey of an Igbo prince from captivity to freedom and literacy; his enslavement in the New World, service in the Seven Years War, voyages to the Arctic, other adventures.
| |
|
 Twelve Years a Slave
by Solomon Northup
Kidnapped into slavery in 1841, Northup spent 12 years in captivity. This autobiographical memoir represents an exceptionally detailed and accurate description of slave life and plantation society. 7 illustrations. Index.
| |
| |  Women's Slave Narratives
by Annie L. Burton
Authentic recollections of hardship, frustration, and hope — from Mary Prince's groundbreaking account of a lone woman's tribulations and courage, to Annie Burton's eulogy of black motherhood.
| |
|
| | |
| |  The Poems of Phillis Wheatley: With Letters and a Memoir
by Phillis Wheatley
At the age of 19, Phillis Wheatley was the first black American poet to publish a book. Her elegies and odes offer fascinating glimpses of the beginnings of African-American literary traditions. Includes a selection from the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
| |
|
 The Blacker the Berry
by Wallace Thurman
The first novel to openly address color prejudice among black Americans, this moving tale unfolds amid the Harlem Renaissance in an enduringly relevant examination of racial, sexual, and cultural identity.
| |
| |  Great Speeches by African Americans: Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Barack Obama, and Others
by James Daley
Tracing the struggle for freedom and civil rights across two centuries, this anthology comprises speeches by Martin Luther King, Jr., Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X, Barack Obama, and many other influential figures. Includes 2 selections from the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
| |
|
 The Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave
by William Wells Brown
An influential force in the abolition movement and a lasting testimonial to the injustice of slavery, Brown's 1847 Narrative offers a sincere and moving account of the author's experiences as a slave in Missouri.
| |
| |  Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
by Harriet Jacobs
Published in 1861, one of few extant slave narratives written by a woman. Powerful portrayal of the brutality of slave life through the inspiring tale of one woman's dauntless spirit and faith.
| |
|
| |  The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass
by Frederick Douglass
Amazing, firsthand account vividly recounts Douglass' early years, his physical abuse and deprivation, a dramatic escape to freedom, and his crusade for full civil rights for former slaves.
| |
|
 My Bondage and My Freedom
by Frederick Douglass
Born a slave, Douglass became outspoken force in antislavery movement. The best of Douglass's autobiographies. Graphic description of slave life.
| |
| | |
| |  Darkwater: Voices from Within the Veil
by W. E. B. Du Bois
The distinguished American civil rights leader first published these fiery essays, sketches, and poems nearly 80 years ago in various periodicals. This volume has long inspired readers with its militant cry for reforms for black Americans.
| |
|
| |  Uncle Tom's Cabin
by Harriet Beecher Stowe
The moving abolitionist novel that fueled the fire of the human rights debate in 1852 and melodramatically condemned the institution of slavery through powerfully realized characters.
| |
|
 African Myths and Folk Tales
by Carter Godwin Woodson
Compiled by the "Father of Black History," these fables unfold amid a magical realm of tricksters and fairies. Recounted in simple language, they will enchant readers and listeners of all ages. Over 60 illustrations.
| |
| |  A Century of Negro Migration
by Carter Godwin Woodson
Traces the migration north and westward of southern blacks, from colonial era through early 20th century. Documented with information from newspapers, letters, academic journals, this study recounts decades of harassment, hope, achievement.
| |
|
 The Mis-Education of the Negro
by Carter Godwin Woodson
This landmark work by a pioneering crusader of black education inspired African-Americans to demand relevant learning opportunities that were inclusive of their own culture and heritage.
| |
| |
