Born into slavery in 1862; Ida B. Wells went on to become an influential reformer and leader in the African American community. A Southern black woman living in a time when little social power was available to people of her race or gender; Ida B. Wells made an extraordinary impact on American society through her journalism and activism. Best-known for her anti-lynching crusade; which publicly exposed the extralegal killings of African Americans; Wells was also an outspoken advocate for social justice in issues including women's suffrage; education; housing; the legal system; and poor relief. In this concise biography; Kristina DuRocher introduces students to Wells's life and the historical issues of race; gender; and social reform in the late 19th- and early 20th-century U.S. Supplemented by primary documents including letters; speeches; and newspaper articles by and about Wells; and supported by a robust companion website; this book enables students to understand this fascinating figure and a contested period in American history.
#610243 in Books Jack Kelly 2016-07-05 2016-07-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.40 x 1.07 x 6.48l; .0 #File Name: 1137280093304 pagesHeaven s Ditch God Gold and Murder on the Erie Canal
Review
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful. Mostly heaven; and just a little ditchBy SileaThe Erie Canal is not the focus of this book narratively; just temporally. If you're hoping for a volume that really delves into the politics and mechanics of the canal; you will be disappointed. Instead; this is a book about just about everything else going on near the canal during the time it was envisioned and built. Religion; politics; social movements; agriculture and economics; etc. But mostly religion; because western New York was a hotbed of revelation and revival back then; and if that's your thing then you'll find this fascinating. Alas; i'd been hoping for a little more ditch in the story. Really; it's just a temporal anchor; a background force that shifts people's lives in unexpected ways.I had some trouble with the organization of the book; which features a fairly broad cast of characters and leaps between them sometimes at random. For example; the first section of the book ranges from the guy who first published the suggestion of a canal across the state all the way to the victim of the titular murder; which happens years after the canal is finished. It jumps from the political quagmire of funding the canal; the complications of the war of 1812 thereon; the financial standings of various families that will be relevant to the story; the surveyors laying the path for the canal; and probably a few other factions i'm forgetting; plus a whole lot about religion; revivals; calvinists and presbyterians; conversions and epiphanies; and all the other related shenanigans. It all comes together eventually; but by the end of the first section you'd be forgiven for wondering if you're supposed to pay more attention to surveyors and their degree of error or men having religious experiences in wooded areas.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great read on local historyBy kdeeWhat a fascinating book! For those of us who grew up anywhere near the Erie Canal there is so much we were never taught. The narrative is amazing and loaded with info on the origin and building of the canal; the towns near it; the spiritual awakening in New York State and some of the strange happenings....like murder and strange forms of amusement.... that accompanied the building of the canal. In the late part of the book the narrative slows down and some of it could probably be left out; but this is a great read for the history buff as well as anyone interested in religion; building; and an engineering marvel.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. I loved this factual book about the history of the Erie ...By amoretI loved this factual book about the history of the Erie canal which was started in eastern New York state in the early 1820s. What a monumental undertaking it was at the time. The canal changed the world! Jack Kelly is a wonderful writer. The portion about mormon "prophet" Joseph Smith's early life and adulthood growing up in New York state; Evangelist Charles Finney; Presbyterian minister Lyman Beecher; Governor DeWitt Clinton and many others are featured in this book. Pages and pages of footnotes. Also appreciated was the large map from eastern New York state across to Lake Erie at Buffalo; NY. Great read. Highly recommended -- Amoret
