How Blacks Built America examines the many positive and dramatic contributions made by African Americans to this country over its long history. Almost all public and scholarly discussion of African Americans accenting their distinctive societal position; especially discussion outside black communities; has emphasized either stereotypically negative features or the negative socioeconomic conditions that they have long faced because of systemic racism. In contrast; Feagin reveals that African Americans have long been an extraordinarily important asset for this country. Without their essential contributions; indeed; there probably would not have been a United States. This is an ideal addition to courses race and ethnicity courses.
#2518266 in Books 2011-01-15 2011-01-13Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.21 x .70 x 6.14l; 1.18 #File Name: 0415616441304 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Interested In Your Sicilian Heritage And Not Afraid of Heavy Reading?By Ms. Pen NameThis was a gift for my father who has always been interested in Sicilian history; dialects and surnames; especially in the sense that they may indicate what bloodlines run through our family. Sicily was a crossroads for and was overrun by many countries so we wonder about our genetic mix. This book did shine some light on the issue--we learned for the first time that Arab influence was heaviest in our ancestors' area of Sicily. If you have similar interests; this book will be of value but be prepared for some heavy reading. My Dad is very literate and can plow through just about anything but; even for him; this was not a light read.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Paperback versionBy CustomerExcellent resource material. I got the paperback book due to the high price of a hardcover.8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Much needed light on a little known subjectBy Eric MaroneyMetcalf's study examines the linguistic shift in Medieval Sicily from the time of the Muslim invasion in 827; to around 1100; a few generations after the arrival of Norman led Christian armies that recaptured the island from the Muslims. In this time period; the island went from an essentially Greek speaking area; to the end of the 10th century; when the island became (expect for some pockets in the east) primarily Arabic speaking; to a Latin speaking (or more properly a Romance; or early Sicilian Italian) speaking island. During the golden age of Norman rule; Greek; Arabic and Latin were the three official languages of the Norman court; and Metcalf impressively surveys court documents; travellers accounts; registries of land transfers to churches and monasteries (that used sur-names of occupants of that land; often Arabic; Greek; or Latin; or hybrids of the three; and geographical markers; again; hybrids of all three languages) to show the linguistic shifts in Sicily; and its progressive Latinization during this time period. All too often; the Muslim influence in areas of Europe recaptured from Muslim peoples is forgotten; erased or downplayed. Metcalf's study is an important book that illustrates the deep debt Sicily owes to its Arab period - and despite the attempts by later scholars to wipe clean the historical record -- the large measure of harmonization (social; political; and economic) that existed between Greek; Muslim and Latin Sicilian communities.
