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Summary:
A chronological history of African-American life and thought represents a broad written and oral tradition and includes evidence of an African presence in America predating Columbus, brief historical introductions to each piece, and biographical notes.
Customer Reviews:
Average Customer Rating:
Great book for classroom and reference
Customer Rating:
Crossing the Danger Water is a wonderful text for several reasons. As reviewers have noted, it includes both historical texts as well as representative examples of fiction and poetry. The editor did a masterful job of selecting the texts, and, as a result, the anthology provides reader with an excellent overview of the African American contribution to politics and literature. Secondly, it is much less expensive than most textbooks, making it a wonderful choice. And finally, Crossing makes a great reference tool. I have used this book for over five years in my introductory Black Studies class and cannot say enough about it.
Underrated Black history classic
Customer Rating:
It's a shame this book is not better known than it is. It is a classic collection of lesser-known writings of Black history mixed with familiar things such as MLK's Dream Speech and Booker T. Washington's Atlanta address. Among the lesser known items are important, but seldom-read documents such as the Emancipation Proclamation, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Amendments (reparations fans would do well to read article 4 of the latter document), and my favorite is Frances Harper's moving letter of sympathy for John Brown's widow (studients in my own Black history classes have always been in awe of this as I've read it aloud).
But enough said, read it, learn, think, and enjoy.
very informative
Customer Rating:
This book is very informative because it tells the story of black slaves from their point of view.
Best I've read on Black History
Customer Rating:
I used this book while taking a Black History course. Everyone in the course agreed that it was the best book we had read on Black History. This was not just a book on history or literature (like most Black History books are) but a very enlightening combination of both subjects. The first thing that caught our attention was how it touched on those people that were involved in our history that are rarely if ever talked about. Also, some of the literature was from African stories that touched on the history of slavery from Africa. This was important to me, because many people blame slavery totally on whites, without an understanding that Blacks held slaves (in Africa and America also) and captured slaves for White Europeans. The letters written, such as those by the lawyers for Dred Scott, and John Brown gave you an interesting perspective of the struggles and the twisted legalities of the decisions passed down in those cases. Also, the personality differences revealed between some of our early leaders, such as W.E.B. Dubois and Booker T. Washington and other contemporaries further demonstrated why our fight for freedom has been such a struggle. This is a very good book and one worth reading and adding to your personal library.
This book is a fantastic reference for teachers.
Customer Rating:
This book contains just about everything of importance in black history. It includes an information page about each person's work that is in the book, people like Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Alice Walker, Malcolm X and Marcus Garvey to name a few. I use this book extensively when teaching my history classes.
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