From Juan Williams; author of Eyes on the Prize; and the Thurgood Marshall Scholarship Fund comes a must-have gift book and definitive resource that explores the historical; social; and cultural importance of America's 107 historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs).HBCUs have graduated such illustrious leaders as Oprah Winfrey; Thurgood Marshall; Spike Lee; W. E. B. DuBois; Debbie Allen; Alain Locke; Samuel L. Jackson; and Nikki Giovanni. This commemorative illustrated gift book is filled with photographs; historical narrative; personal memoir; archival and contemporary material; and anecdotal and resource information. It is the first of its kind -- a groundbreaking retrospective that explores the dramatic development and history of America's historically black colleges and universities.Stories abound about the abolition of slavery. However; lesser known are the efforts -- both prior to and after the Civil War -- of African American and white abolitionists banding together to formally educate newly freed slaves. Through the tireless work of government organizations; black churches; missionary groups; and philanthropists; HBCUs were established. The tales of how these schools were created and of the individuals who are linked to the schools' histories are extraordinarily rich -- and sometimes controversial. In an unprecedented salute to America's 107 historically black colleges and universities; I'll Find a Way or Make One chronicles the formation of the black middle class; the history of education in the African American community; and some of the most important events of African Americana and American history.
#339916 in Books 2002-07-23 2002-07-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 1.38 x 6.13l; 2.13 #File Name: 0060084383864 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Hands down the most interesting and useful 1-volume history of just about every big idea that formed the 20th century.By Mitch OrfussPeter Watson has pulled off a second miracle--essentially completing what he started in his "Ideas: ...From Fire to Freud." "The Modern Mind" has just the right depth for me--not too much and not too little. It seems that no important idea of the 20th century was skipped. The book has the speed of a good novel; and is smart without a hint of pretension. The conversational tone is that of a smart; synthetic; enthusiastic college lecturer. I keep going back to Watson with renewed excitement; and so will you. Fine bibliography suggests further reading. In short: If all first-year college students were given the opportunity to read and discuss this book during Spring semester (after completing its prequel "Ideas:..." during Fall semester)--supplemented perhaps by some primary readings--they'd come away with a really terrific grounding in world history; civilization; philosophy; religion; invention. In short; an education between covers.8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. giftBy HydraThis book would make a great graduation gift for any high school student as he begins a liberal arts education. They would also be essential for business or engineering graduates who of necessity might have missed a humanities education altogether. Perhaps the book is too ambitious; but it is well written and a compelling read. My only criticism is that towards the end one senses his reliance on the great popular work in the sciences written in the 1990's.( Dawkins; Weinberg; Wilson; Pinker; Dyson et al - great stuff; but more essential material has been added in the last 10 years particularly in astrophysics and the neurosciences.) But the core questions as Watson defines them still hold. This is the kind of book that needs to be rewritten every 10 years and is due for an update which I very much hope is coming soon. (Also check out his more recent book "Ideas" which is even more ambitious). These books follow in the tradition of Tarnas or Jacob Bronowski and deserves to become even more admired. Few people are capable of writing; or can be trusted to write.... these kind of intellectual Uber-histories. Watson has done a wonderful job.7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Pretty Much as AdvertisedBy Herbert L CalhounDense; erudite and challenging; but never boring: An 800-page panoramic view of the intellectual history of the 20th Century. It follows both the paradigms and the paradigm shifts in the arts; humanities and most of all in the sciences -- paradigms and shifts that have taken place over the 20th Century mostly in the Western world.All of the big ideas and the people that introduced them are present; accounted for; and are neatly and economically summarized; in context. The core elements of most of the key intellectual ideas and theories across a vast expanse of the intellectual landscape -- from Freud to Nietzsche; and Darwin to Einstein -- that have driven us from Modernism to Post-modernism are given with the historical connective tissue left in.Importantly; the author makes a distinction between "cultural" and "intellectual" history and advances; between "big ideas" and "big people" and "big events" that normally drive history and uses these distinctions as a tool for ignoring the latter two; thus paring down his selections to a manageable size. As a result; the book has a unity that is simply uncanny in its utter coherence and precision.What an exhilarating ride. Intellectual history doesn't get much better than this. Read and enjoy. AmenFive Stars
