Black Legacy: A History of New York's African American - Hardcover

Katz, William Loren

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0689319134 ISBN 13: 9780689319136

Publisher: Atheneum, 1997

Synopsis

The author of Black Indians traces the history of African Americans in New York from the colonial period to the present day, capturing the people and events--from early slaves to the Harlem Renaissance to the Civil Rights Movement--that changed the course of America.

About this title

Review:

"Katz focuses in on just one segment of black history, New York's African Americans community, but the depth of the work is impressive. Encompases the story of all Americans blacks, as well as their culture and leadership."

-- Booklist

"Bill Katz is at it again. He has done for New York what he did for the American West. We hail him for his accomplishments yesterday and today. I cannot wait to greet him in person. Meanwhile, across the miles, I salute him and Black Legacy." -- Prof. John Hope Franklin

"Bill Katz is one of the few members outside of our community who has made a significant, lasting contribution to it. Black Legacy is a good, clear layman's book on African Americans in New York." -- Prof. John Henrik Clarke

"Brings little-known facts to an audience that deserves to better learn the reality of its past ... [and] much information new to most readers. A fascinating account for the reader to pursue [and] includes many archival photographs. There are few books intended for young people that take this detailed a look at history. -- Voice of Youth Advocates

"This is an exhaustive history of African Americans in New York.... Katz's prose is gracefully accessible and devoid of self-conscious frills." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

... Katz has blended his longtime love of history with impressive research and a family collection of archival prints and photos. The result is an accessible and engaging record of the African presence in New York from the early 1600s.... Black Legacy presents a picture of black (and white) life far different from that of more traditional history books. Age 12 and older. -- The New York Times Book Review, Rosemary L. Bray

From Booklist:

Gr. 6^-10. Katz focuses on just one segment of black history, New York's African American community, but the depth of the work is quite impressive. He begins with the first Africans in New Amsterdam, some free, some Dutch slaves who helped build the city. The relative ease of race relations in early New York tightened over the years, but African Americans still played a vibrant part in the country's growth and fought for independence during the Revolutionary War. Katz goes on to chronicle life during the early nineteenth century and then during the Civil War. He highlights the Harlem Renaissance and the civil rights movement, as well as the mayoralty of David Dinkins. Throughout, the author introduces a wealth of African Americans, some well known, others not, but all important to the growth of New York. With so much material to cover, the text occasionally bogs down, but for the most part, this is highly readable. Despite its New York emphasis, this encompasses the story of all American blacks, as well as their culture and leadership. Heavily and thoughtfully illustrated with photographs and historical material. A wide age range will be able to use and appreciate this fine resource. Endnotes; bibliography. Ilene Cooper

About this edition

• Publisher: Atheneum
• Publication date: 1997
• ISBN 10: 0689319134
• ISBN 13: 9780689319136
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256