The Black Towns
Book description
From Appomattox to World War I, Black Americans continued their quest for a secure position in the American system. The problem was how to be both black and American-how to find acceptance, or even toleration, in a society in which the boundaries of normative behavior, the values, and the very…
Why read it?
1 author picked The Black Towns as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
In addition to information about patterns of settlement and leadership, Crockett provides a rare glimpse into intra-racial prejudices. Was it better to have light-colored skin, or would pride in being black predominate? Some editors argued that “past association with whites had corrupted the race.” Skin color was a criterion for social position in some communities, with attitudes varying from town to town. Most scholars are reluctant to touch this subject. I salute Crockett’s courage in delving into the hierarchy of color.
From Charlotte's list on African Americans in the West after the Civil War.
Want books like The Black Towns?
Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Black Towns.
Browse books like The Black Towns