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Book Displays: Black History 2/25

A historical file on books on display at the Monroe University Libraries - and the occasion for which they were displayed

Monroe University Libraries Celebrates Black (African American) History Month

Books at Dr. Donald E. Simon Memorial Library (BX)

The Truths We Hold : An American Journey

From Vice President Kamala Harris, one of America's most inspiring political leaders, comes a book about the core truths that unite us and how best to act upon them. The daughter of immigrants and civil rights activists, Vice President Kamala Harris was raised in an Oakland, California, community that cared deeply about social justice. As she rose to prominence as one of the political leaders of our time, her experiences would become her guiding light as she grappled with an array of complex issues and learned to bring a voice to the voiceless.  In The Truths We Hold, she reckons with the big challenges we face together. Drawing on the hard-won wisdom and insight from her own career and the work of those who have most inspired her, she communicates a vision of shared struggle, shared purpose, and shared values as we confront the great work of our day.

Notes from a Young Black Chef

By the time he was twenty-seven years old, Kwame Onwuachi  had opened--and closed--one of the most talked about restaurants in America. He had launched his own catering company with twenty thousand dollars that he made from selling candy on the subway, yet he'd been told he would never make it on television because his cooking wasn't "Southern" enough. In this inspiring memoir about the intersection of race, fame, and food, he shares the remarkable story of his culinary coming-of-age. Growing up in the Bronx, as a boy Onwuachi was sent to rural Nigeria by his mother to "learn respect." Onwuachi's love of food and cooking remained a constant throughout, even when he found the road to success riddled with potholes. As a young chef, he was forced to grapple with just how unwelcoming the world of fine dining can be for people of color, and his first restaurant, the culmination of years of planning, shuttered just months after opening. A powerful, heartfelt, and shockingly honest story of chasing your dreams--even when they don't turn out as you expected--Notes from a Young Black Chef is one man's pursuit of his passions, despite the odds. "This is an astonishing and open-hearted story from one of the next generation's stars of the culinary world.

Everyday Beauty

Everyday Beauty features fifty-five images that pay visual tribute to the extraordinary style and aesthetic of African American figures, by highlighting themes of self-representation, resilience, and civic engagement. The photographs depict people across generations showing how staged and candid moments can be both beautiful and precious. African Americans have long recognized the power of images and used them to document moments--from the monumental to everyday.

Red Tails : An oral history of the Tuskegee Airmen

Official source for the major motion picture from Executive Producer George Lucas! The first group of African-American pilots in the history of the U.S. military, the Tuskegee Airmen had to battle discrimination at home before they could join the fight abroad. Trained at Alabama's Tuskegee Institute, they overcame racial bias during World War II as the 332nd Fighter Group and the 477th Bombardment Group of the Army Air Corps. The pilots of the 332nd made their reputation escorting B-17s and B-24s on long bombing runs over Central Europe. Nicknamed "Red Tails" for the crimson tips of their P-51 Mustang fighters, Based on extensive interviews with members of the Tuskegee Airmen, this inspiring book offers insights into the prejudices the Red Tails had to overcome and recaptures the drama of wartime service. As veteran Charles McGee noted, "The story of the Tuskegee Airmen isn't a black story, it's an American history story, and the youth of America need to know about it."

Distinguished African Americans in Aviation and Space Science

Distinguished African Americans in Aviation and Space Science offers brief, readable entries that describe the lives and careers of 80 men and 20 women who defied poverty and prejudice to excel in the fields of aviation and space exploration. Each essay begins with birth and death dates, educational institutions attended and degrees earned, positions held, and awards won. A short summary of the individual's contribution to aviation or space science is followed by a biographical narrative divided into three sections: Early Years, Higher Education, and Career Highlights.

Sacred Fire : The QBR 100 Essential Black Books

QBR is America's only national black book reviewer. Published to coincide with the journal's fifth anniversary, this book offers readers a guide to the 100 essential books by and about people of African descent that have had the most influence, consequence, and resonance on American life. Divided into sections including Nationalism and Revolution, Origins, Community and Identity, and Brothers, Sisters, Church and Spirit.

The Great Black Jockeys : The lives and times of the men who dominated America's first national sport

More than a century before Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball, black athletes were dominating America's first national sport. The sport was horse racing, and the greatest jockeys of all were slaves and the sons of slaves. Although their glory days ranged from the early 1700s to the turn of the 20th century, the memory of these great black jockeys was erased from history. Who were these athletes and why have their names vanished without a trace? "This may be the most fascinating untold sports story in American history. The Great Black Jockeys is the first book about the lives and times of the forgotten men whose extraordinary skills were a wonder to behold. This is also a story of a young country where whole towns turned out in cleared fields to cheer and place wagers on magnificent horses and the men who rode them, and where the greatest athletes in the land were the property of others. For fleeting moments on the racecourse black riders in colorful silks tasted the glory and freedom that slavery had denied them.

African American Religious History : A documentary witness

This widely-heralded collection of remarkable documents offers a view of African American religious history from Africa and early America through Reconstruction to the rise of black nationalism, civil rights, and black theology of today. The documents--many of them rare, out-of-print, or difficult to find--include personal narratives, sermons, letters, protest pamphlets, early denominational histories, journalistic accounts, and theological statements. Martin Luther King, Jr. writes from the Birmingham jail. Originally published in 1985, this expanded second edition includes new sources on women, African missions, and the Great Migration.

Africans in America : America's Journey through Slavery

The companion volume to the public television series. This extraordinary examination of slavery in americanca features a four-part history by poet and performance artist Patricia Smith and a dozen fictional narratives by National Book Award-winning novelist Charles Johnson. Two-color with black-and-white illustrations throughout.

The Right to Fight : A history of African Americans in the military

First time in paperback: An all-encompassing chronicle of African Americans' in the armed forces of the United States

African-American Philosophers : 17 conversations

African-American Philosophers brings into conversation seventeen of the foremost thinkers of color to discuss issues such as Black existentialism, racism, Black women philosophers within the academy, affirmative action and the conceptual parameters of African-American philosophy.

The Welcome Table : African American Heritage Cooking

"Jessica Harris celebrates and honors that heritage in The Welcome Table, a collection of over 200 recipes, both traditional and contemporary, gathered from church suppers, fish fries, Sunday school picnics, barbecues, family reunions, and Saturday night dinners all over the United States. Presented in as authentic a form as possible (with substitutions if health or religious reasons require them) and seasoned liberally with fascinating nuggets of oral and written history as well as personal reminiscences, The Welcome Table presents African-American food at its best - from grits with ham and red-eye gravy to Hoppin' John, from benne seed wafers and sweet potato pie to the gospel bird and "a mess of greens."

Books at New Rochelle Campus Library

Harlem : The four hundred year history from Dutch village to Capital of Black America /

Harlem is perhaps the most famous, iconic neighborhood in the United States. A bastion of freedom and the capital of Black America, Harlem's twentieth century renaissance changed our arts, culture, and politics forever. But this is only one of the many chapters in a wonderfully rich and varied history. In Harlem, historian Jonathan Gill presents the first complete chronicle of this remarkable place. From Henry Hudson's first contact with native Harlemites, through Harlem's years as a colonial outpost on the edge of the known world, Gill traces the neighborhood's story, marshaling a tremendous wealth of detail and a host of fascinating figures from George Washington to Langston Hughes. In the nineteenth century, transportation urbanized Harlem. Harlem's mix of cultures, extraordinary wealth and extreme poverty was electrifying and explosive. Extensively researched, impressively synthesized, eminently readable, and overflowing with captivating characters,

African American Food Culture

Like other Americans, African Americans partake of the general food offerings available in mainstream supermarket chains across the country. Food culture, however, may depend on where they live and their degree of connection to traditions passed down through generations since the time of slavery. The state of African American food culture today is illuminated in depth here for the first time, in the all-important context of understanding the West African origins of most African Americans of today. A historical overview discusses the beginnings of this hybrid food culture when Africans were forcibly removed from their homelands and brought to the United States. Special insight is also given on African American chefs. The Special Occasions chapter discusses all the pertinent occasions for African Americans to prepare and eat symbolic dishes that reaffirm their identity and culture. Recipes, photos, chronology, resource guide, and selected bibliography round out the narrative.

Knowing Who I Am : a Black entrepreneur's struggle and success in the American South

Earl M. Middleton (b. 1919) has prospered in ways few African Americans have in the rural South. As owner of a successful business that cuts across racial lines and as a political leader in the cause of civil rights, Middleton has garnered hard-won recognition for his efforts from blacks and whites alike. His life story is at once illustrative of dynamic developments in southern race relations over the past eight decades. A World War II veteran, Middleton trained as a Tuskegee Airman in 1942 and then served as an infantry soldier in the Pacific theater. Returning to Orangeburg in 1946, he became a barber and then a restaurant owner before finding his true vocation in real-estate.  Middleton quickly developed a reputation for superior knowledge and inclusive definitions of community that allowed him to succeed. As a civil rights activist in the 1950s and 1960s, Middleton witnessed firsthand the bravery of Orangeburg's citizens. From these experiences Middleton developed an unconquerable forbearance that complemented his unshakable belief in equality. In 1974, he was elected to the South Carolina General Assembly, where he served for a decade. There he was a founding member of the Legislative Black Caucus and an influential voice on the U.S. Civil Rights Commission.

A. Philip Randolph : a life in the vanguard

Before the emergence of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., there were several key leaders who fought for civil rights in the United States. Among them was A. Philip Randolph, who perhaps best embodied the hopes, ideals, and aspirations of black Americans. Born in the South Randolph was by his thirtieth birthday a prime mover in the movement to expand civil, social, and economic rights in America. A Socialist and a radical, Randolph devoted his life to energizing the black masses into collective action. He successfully organized the all-black Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters a. In this engaging new book, historian Andrew E. Kersten explores Randolph's significant influences and accomplishments as both a labor and civil rights leader. Kersten pays particular attention to Randolph's political philosophy, his involvement in the labor and civil rights movements, and his dedication to improving the lives of American workers.

From a Cat House to the White House : the story of an African-American chef

From the Cat House to the White House: The Story of an African-American Chef is the fascinating autobiography of a ninety-year-old African-American who was born in a sharecropper cabin in North Carolina, taught to cook by the madame of a brothel, and ended up chefing for President Gerald Ford, Frank Sinatra, George Burns, Bob Hope, Elizabeth Taylor and other celebrities. His signature dish was a lemon meringue pie and his memoir includes recipes for it and other very special dishes.

Negro League Baseball : the rise and ruin of a Black institution /

The story of black professional baseball provides a remarkable perspective on several major themes in modern African American history: the initial black response to segregation, the subsequent struggle to establish successful separate enterprises, and the later movement toward integration. Baseball functioned as a critical component in the separate economy catering to black consumers in the urban centers of the North and South. Presents the extraordinary history of a great African American achievement, from its lowest ebb during the Depression, through its golden age and World War II, until its gradual disappearance during the early years of the civil rights era. Faced with only a limited amount of correspondence and documents, Lanctot consulted virtually every sports page of every black newspaper located in a league city. He then conducted interviews with former players and scrutinized existing financial, court, and federal records. Through his efforts, Lanctot has painstakingly reconstructed the institutional history of black professional baseball, locating the players, teams, owners, and fans in the wider context of the league's administration.

Red Tails, Black Wings : the men of America's Black air force

They fought two wars. One, at home, against prejudice & the other, abroad, against the Germans. Thus, the cream of black youth shattered stereotypes that blacks did not have the intelligence to fly. They were called the Tuskegee Airmen after their training base at Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama. When finally, & reluctantly, accepted by a combat unit they joined the AAF in North Africa. They proved, without question, their skill in aerial combat as they accumulated a string of victories. With the creation of the 15th AAF & the introduction of long-range, daylight bombing, escort duty became their primary responsibility. The 332nd identification was a distinctive red tail on their P-51s. This earned them the nickname 'Red Tails.' Thousand of bomber crews who survived because of their vigilance & dedication attest to their boast to never have lost an escorted bomber to enemy fighters. "Lord, we loved them," was the heartfelt comment of one bombardier.

Black Art and Culture in the 20th Century

The African diaspora - a direct result of the transatlantic slave trade and Western colonialism - has generated a wide array of artistic achievements in our century, from blues to reggae, from the paintings of Henry Ossawa Tanner to the video installations of Keith Piper. This brilliant new study of twentieth-century black art is the first to concentrate on the art works themselves.

A Shining Thread of Hope : the history of Black women in America

Encompassing both the panoramic story of Black women in America and the intimate, evocative details of the lives of individual women,This inspiring, sometimes heartbreaking narrative offers fresh scholarship and historical presentation as it goes beyond descriptions of codified oppression to present the strength, courage, and resourcefulness of African-American women as individuals and as a collective force for positive change. A Shining Thread of Hope moves Black women from the fringes of history, disclosing their impact on American life from colonial America to the years of antebellum slavery to the arts renaissance of the 1970s and '80s. Gripping stories of Civil War spies, a new look at the Civil Rights movement, and an examination of the triumphs of recent years reveal what Black women have to teach all Americans about courage and survival.

1001 Things Everyone Should Know about African-American History

"In 1001 short, eminently readable essays, takes us on a journey through five hundred years of African American history. Every important aspect is covered, from the possible discovery of America by Africans to the recent Million Man March. 1001 Things Everyone Should Know About African American History is for anyone who wants to learn more about the significant but often overlooked role that African Americans have played in American history." "Within six broad sections (Great Migrations; Civil Rights and Politics; African Americans in the Military; Culture and Religion; Invention, Science, and Medicine; and Sports), Dr. Stewart describes both the well known and the obscure, from landmark Supreme Court decisions and the importance of African American midwives to Marcus Garvey's Black Star Line, and why Granville T. Woods is known as the black Edison.

Succeeding Against the Odds

One of America’s wealthiest entrepreneurs, John H. Johnson rose from the welfare rolls of the Depression to become the most successful Black businessman in American history; the founder of Ebony, Jet, and EM magazines; and a member of the Forbes 400. Like the man himself, this autobiography is brash, inspirational, and truly unforgettable.

               THIS RESEARCH OR "LIBGUIDE" WAS PRODUCED BY THE LIBRARIANS OF MONROE UNIVERSITY             

    EMAIL: library@monroeu.edu -- Bronx Campus (646) 393-8333 / New Rochelle Campus (914)-740-6437