As the world prepared for the Exposition Universalle de 1900 in Paris; W. E. B. Du Bois was approached to help represent African American life. He came with a cache of stunning photographs to illustrate the progress of Negroes in America -- thereby offering a photographic counterpoint to the prolific stereotyping of blacks that left viewers awestruck.With insights from Pulitzer Prize winner David Levering Lewis and Mac-Arthur Fellow photo historian Deborah Willis; A Small Nation of People presents more than one hundred and fifty of these important photographs together for the first time since their initial unveiling. Here is an incredible treasure trove of illustrations of African Americans in front of their new businesses; universities; and homes -- sometimes modest; sometimes elegant. Here; too; are beautiful Victorian-era portraits of blacks whose varied hues show how diverse black Americans truly were. Viewed together; the collection reveals in glorious detail what Du Bois saw -- a small nation of people prepared to make their mark on America.
#1374652 in Books 2008-01-22 2008-01-22Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.25 x .93 x 5.50l; #File Name: 0060510730272 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. fascinating interwoven storiesBy skatinglibrarianWritten by an historian who formerly lived in the small Vermont community of Guilford; "Mr. and Mrs. Prince" tells two stories. The Princes of the title were African Americans who were slaves in northern Massachusetts up until the period between the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. First Abijah Prince managed to buy his freedom thanks to years of taking on extra jobs and his military service; and later he freed Lucy; who would become his wife. Unlike slaves in the South; they had learned to read and write; both had the math skills needed to work in a store or other business; and there was a community of African Americans around them which included free men and women as well as slaves. Lucy was known as a superb storyteller; and is believed to be the first African American woman to write poetry in the US.Gretchen Gerzina; the author; and her husband spent years trying to separate myth from fact. Their detective work took them to dozens of libraries; courthouses; genealogical societies; and archives. As they unraveled the story they also came to a deeper understanding of life and society on the New England frontier. As a librarian and family historian I found both their search and their deepening appreciation for the courage of the Princes fascinating.For when settlers began to move north into Vermont after the wars with the Native Americans ceased; the Prince family acquired a homestead in Guilford and slowly cleared land for farming and built a modest home. Sadly a wealthy neighbor from Connecticut; envious of their somewhat better land and a racist to boot; hired men to attack the Princes and their farm. The Princes defended themselves legally and although successful with the Selectmen; judges; and legislature; the frontier government had no way to actually protect them. Gerzina followed their story and that of their grown children and in the process illuminated everyday rural life in the young republic.As a resident of Guilford myself; I particularly appreciate the chance to read serious; well researched history that took place in what is still a very rural corner of the world.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Vermont Black HistoryBy Terry MartinWOW; talk about history in my own backyard and places I have been; people I know who helped in the research. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and history surrounding the struggles that early American blacks faced; again right in my backyard.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Great HistoryBy jparsonsGreat book for New England history
