Dark Midnight When I Rise tells the story of a troupe of young ex-slaves and freedmen whose odyssey from cotton field and auction block to concert stage and throne room is one of the most remarkable trajectories in American history. Singing the sacred hymns of their ancestors; the Fisk Jubilee Singers introduced the world to African American music. They enchanted such luminaries as Ulysses S. Grant; Frederick Douglass; Mark Twain; Queen Victoria; and Prime Minister William Gladstone; and demonstrated to millions of white Americans and Europeans the courage; dignity; and intelligence of African Americans. The Jubilees set out in the fall of 1871 to raise money for Nashville's nearly bankrupt Fisk University; one of many black schools established after the Civil War to teach reading and writing to the tens of thousands of emancipated slaves who clamored for an education. Ejected from hotels and railroad cars; shivering in the winter cold; the bedraggled singers performed along the route of the old Underground Railway to Brooklyn; where; a few days before Christmas; they sang for Henry Ward Beecher's Plymouth Church congregation. They caused such a sensation that soon they were raising thousands of dollars a week performing to overflow audiences up and down the Eastern Seaboard. After tours of Great Britain; Holland; Switzerland; and Germany; they not only rescued Fisk but built it into one of the nation's preeminent African American institutions of higher learning. The Jubilees introduced scores of spirituals; from "Steal Away" to "Swing Low; Sweet Chariot;" with such soulful artistry they moved throngs to tears. But their contribution extended beyond their music. Forced to do daily battle with American racism in the dark midnight of Reconstruction; they bravely denounced segregation from choir lofts and concert stages; forcing the issue of discrimination onto the world's front pages. In their wake; Northern hotels; railroads; and schools opened their doors to blacks. Their success came at great cost. The eloquent Benjamin Holmes; who had taught himself to read as a slave; died of tuberculosis. Pious Julia Jackson; who as a small girl had helped her relatives escape from bondage; suffered a paralytic stroke. Frail; stalwart Ella Sheppard; the matriarch of the Jubilees; nearly died of pneumonia after seven years of unceasing toil. As they struggled to overcome exploitation and prejudice; the Jubilees transformed American music forever; foreshadowing the triumphs and travails of thousands of black performers. Based on the singers' own letters; memoirs; and diaries; Dark Midnight When I Rise is a compelling and deeply moving testament to the inherent decency of all men and women; and the power of art to change the heart of a nation.
#99347 in Books Alison Weir 2016-01-12 2016-01-12Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.60 x 1.60 x 6.50l; 1.25 #File Name: 0345521390576 pagesThe Lost Tudor Princess The Life of Lady Margaret Douglas
Review
88 of 90 people found the following review helpful. Best Alison Weir Book So Far ....By BusyMomI have always said there is one author who got me interested in English history; and namely; the Tudor history and that is Alison Weir. I have read her books for the last 15 years or so. She has always written a tome of historical facts that shows her investigative skills. I blame her for her preciseness whenever I read historical fiction and I find myself saying; "No; this didn't happen THIS way. ..." I love her books. I love her writing style.This book focuses on Margaret Douglas; niece to King Henry the Eighth and a woman who has managed to survive the tumultuous Tudor reigns of Henry; Mary; Elizabeth One and Mary; Queen of Scots. There is so much information in this book that I have had to refer to the index of who is who in the beginning of the book.I thought I was familiar with events that occurred in King Henry's court as well as Elizabeth's; but it turns out; there is a lot more that I didn't know about; and Margaret was in the midst of it all. Born to King Henry's oldest sister; and her second husband; Margaret is not really a Scottish princess; but is treated like one. She was then sent to live with her uncle when she was 13 and became a lady-in-waiting to several of Henry's wives; starting with Queen Katherine. In Margaret's life; she played on the national court as well as any of the Tudors did. She may not be as famous as the Tudors were; but she played an important part in history.This is a meaty book full of information; but it's so good to read. Once you pick it up; it is hard to put it down. I am intrigued by all the drama and events that went on. Weir has a talent for making historical people seem more human; more life-like than just names on a piece of paper stuck in a museum. She is the reason why I am in love with English history. She has brought so many characters to life for me as well as making history of people who have lived hundreds of years ago seem real. That is talent.106 of 111 people found the following review helpful. and was one of the authors of an anthology of love poetry called the Devonshire ManuscriptBy A. J TerryAs the niece of Henry VIII and grandmother of James 1 of England; Lady Margaret Douglas; Countess of Lennox; is not exactly “lost.†However; she’s less well known to the non-historian than Henry VIII’s wives or Mary Queen of Scots. Alison Weir’s biography is full of the names of Margaret’s illustrious connections. She was the goddaughter of Cardinal Wolsey; the cousin and close friend of Queen Mary I; a lady-in-waiting to Anne Boleyn and Catherine Parr; the mother of Lord Darnley; and the mother-in-law of Mary Queen of Scots. Her turbulent life included angering Henry VIII by her courtships with Thomas Howard and his nephew Charles Howard (relatives of the disgraced Anne Boleyn) and angering Elizabeth I by marrying her son Charles to the stepdaughter of the Earl of Shrewsbury. She was imprisoned in the Tower on several occasions; and was one of the authors of an anthology of love poetry called the Devonshire Manuscript. Alison Weir’s entertaining prose; combined with thorough research; makes this an excellent biography. Five stars.59 of 62 people found the following review helpful. FascinatingBy JLeeThis is an outstanding biography of Margaret Douglas. It is probably Alison Weir’s best nonfiction book (and; by extension; at least for me; her best book; as I prefer her nonfiction over her fiction).So many so-called biographies of medieval or Renaissance women are more about the people around them rather than the woman herself as we so seldom have their opinions; hopes and dreams expressed in their own words. Not so with Margaret Douglas. We have numerous letters written by and to her; as well as a series of heartbreaking love poetry from a doomed romance. And she certainly was a romantic figure (spoiler alert: a non-doomed romance).People adored the young Margaret when she came to the English court. She was a favorite of her uncle; Henry VIII (although he went ahead and threw her in the tower anyways) and his daughter (Margaret’s cousin); the future Queen Mary. Henry VIII’s other daughter; Elizabeth I – well; their relationship was very up and down (and yes; she also threw Margaret in prison). Margaret Douglas was very much a contender for the throne; and Elizabeth was not very tolerant of anyone who stood too close to her throne. She and her husband were claimants to the thrones of not one country but two; England and Scotland. Margaret plotted tirelessly to advance herself and her family; and later to marry her son; Lord Darnley; to Mary; Queen of Scots. And yes; Elizabeth was not happy.So; if you are not familiar with Margaret Douglas; let me tell you a very little about her background. Her mother (also named Margaret) was the daughter of Henry VII; and so a sister to Henry VIII; and she was married to the king of Scotland. After that king died; she married a Scottish lord; and their daughter was Margaret Douglas; the subject of this book. Let’s just say the relationship between her parents was not all hugs and kisses. Various people turn sides again and again; no one can trust anyone; everyone is spying on everyone; and it goes on and on.Margaret Douglas is an active; not a passive; person in this very dangerous high-stakes game. Alison Weir is to be congratulated for rescuing Margaret from obscurity.The book is intense; not a quick read; but clear and concise and utterly fascinating. I highly recommend it for anyone interested in women’s history in general and the Tudors and Renaissance England in particular.
