This volume depicts the immigrants from Africa as one among
the many elements which created present-day America. On the one
hand, they differ from the other minorities because they came
involuntarily, suffered the cruelties of slavery, and were of another
color. All of this made their experience unique. On the other hand,
they shared much in common with the other minorities, many of
whom also felt like aliens in their new land.
Throughout most of American history, political power has been
held tightly by the white, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant majority.
Historical presentations which stressed the political component,
thereby tended to leave the later immigrants in the background.
However, because these newcomers did not assimilate fully into the
mainstream of America, they maintained some of their ethnic
identity and made fresh and unique contributions to American life.
A socio-cultural approach to history, through highlighting society
and culture rather than politics, brings these minorities into proper
focus.
This study of Afro-Americans seeks to describe the character
and culture which they produced for themselves in America.
Pages:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25