In the 1910s; both W. E. B. Du Bois and Booker T. Washington praised the black community in Durham; North Carolina; for its exceptional race progress. Migration; urbanization; and industrialization had turned black Durham from a post-Civil War liberation community into the "capital of the black middle class." African Americans owned and operated mills; factories; churches; schools; and an array of retail services; shops; community organizations; and race institutions. Using interviews; narratives; and family stories; Leslie Brown animates the history of this remarkable city from emancipation to the civil rights era; as freedpeople and their descendants struggled among themselves and with whites to give meaning to black freedom.Brown paints Durham in the Jim Crow era as a place of dynamic change where despite common aspirations; gender and class conflicts emerged. Placing African American women at the center of the story; Brown describes how black Durham's multiple constituencies experienced a range of social conditions. Shifting the historical perspective away from seeing solidarity as essential to effective struggle or viewing dissent as a measure of weakness; Brown demonstrates that friction among African Americans generated rather than depleted energy; sparking many activist initiatives on behalf of the black community.
#1735523 in Books The University of North Carolina Press 2004-10-25Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.30 x .71 x 6.16l; .95 #File Name: 0807855553282 pages
Review
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A Rarity in Academic Writing: Past U.S. Politics are actually interesting; who knew?By Erica HareIn the contemporary professional world of academic writing current history professors have unfortunately succumbed to falling back on the traditional stereotypical role of pretentious writing; utilization of uncommon vocabulary; complicated imagery relating to their historical subject; and hard to understand primary evidence that the general public can not relate to in their own lives and era. However; Jonathan Earle effectively demonstrates in his book with superlative ease how past U.S. politics; its parties; and the era in which they were at it's apex; can indeed be interesting to the general public again. Jonathan Earle counter poses the traditional stereotypical role by using interesting primary evidence through out his book; in which he makes you feel like you were actually participating in the events and conversations that took place almost 182 years ago. Earle uses fascinating historical imagery that not only correlates to what he writes about; but makes you want to explore the images away from the fascinating and important emergence of the Free Soil Party; which defied the traditional system of U.S. politics up to that point in our brief history as a nation. With just a brief emergence of a new century this book shows that our young nation was already facing dire dilemmas that would eventually divide a nation into half for four bloody years. With more men; women; and children who were murdered on both the Union and Confederate sides; then both World Wars and contemporary wars that the U.S. has been involved in to this day. This is an outstanding read that will take your imagination on a wild adventure back to a time period and political party that is too often negated in U.S. history. In my view Jonathan Earle's book and his writing has triumphantly pounced the traditional stereotypical role. That historical subjects and academic writing can not only appeal to the general public again; but more importantly Earle's book shows just how significant past key historical events and U.S. politics have shaped our lives to this very day. Erica Hare3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. OutstandingBy Dave J PeavlerThis is a wonderful survey of Free Soil politics that my students have found both accesible and fascinating. Let me say this in a more direct way-people who don't usually read books enjoyed this book. Earle's writing is crisp and his attention to detail is superb. For those wishing to understand the period leading up to the Civil War; this book is a great place to start.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Not your typical take on U.S. historyBy J. EilperinJonathan Earle's deftly written; lively account of the Free Soil Democrats' role in the antislavery effort challenges traditional interpretations of the movement; showing these politicians played a critical role in this country's push toward equality. But more than that; Earle makes you feel like you were at the dinner table with these folks as they debated the central issue of the day; and that's worth the price of the book alone.
