Many of the products we use every day were invented by African Americans, although these inventors unfortunately have not often been given credit for their contributions. Readers will take a fascinating look at the black men and women who have helped shape the world, as we know it today with their inventions. Engaging text presents a discussion of the lives of prominent black inventors, including the struggles they dealt with in the past and continue...

In recent years, the stories of black women in scientific and mathematical fields have finally emerged from the shadows of history to inspire new generations of Americans. Through engaging main text filled with quotes from prominent figures, readers understand how black women who pursued careers in science and math helped shape the history of the world and continue to shape its future. Eye-catching photographs make this complex and influential

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The enslavement of Africans in America is one of the most shameful aspects of U.S. history. In modern times, some activist groups have called for compensation, also known as reparations, to be made to descendants of slaves. Detailing all the angles of this ongoing debate, this subject is explored through rich main text, engaging sidebars, primary sources, and annotated quotes from influential figures. Readers get a nuanced understanding of the arguments...

Barack Obama made history when he became president in 2008, but his election was made possible partially by the hard work of the many African American politicians who came before him. Even before the abolition of slavery, African Americans held political office, although they have not had an easy time of it. This historical overview of black politicians in the United States enhances classroom learning by bringing to light little-known facts, supported...

When people are routinely and systematically oppressed for years, it is only logical that they eventually rise up against their oppressors. For African slaves in North America, these rebellions were largely unsuccessful. Nevertheless, the anger and uprisings that came from people who wanted their freedom and were willing to fight for it are important parts of the story of the fight to end slavery. Readers get a deeper understanding of crucial slave...

The influence of African Americans on music in the United States cannot be overstated. A large variety of musical genres owe their beginnings to black musicians. Jazz, rap, funk, R&B, and even techno have roots in African American culture. This volume chronicles the history of African American music, with spotlights on influential black musicians of the past and present. Historical and contemporary photographs, including primary sources, contribute...

By the middle of the 1900s, African Americans were tired of the discriminatory treatment they had been receiving even after the abolition of slavery nearly 100 years prior. As the American civil rights movement began to grow, a group of courageous activists, called the Freedom Riders, began challenging the segregated status quo. Assisted by engaging fact boxes and a comprehensive text, readers are placed in the middle of the fight for equality. Striking...

Many of the most famous faces of the civil rights movement were men, but women played a very large part in the fight for equal rights. Largely ignored by historians as well as by their male contemporaries, it is only relatively recently that the women who