The first-ever narrative history of African Americans told through their own letters, this book includes the thoughts of politicians, writers, and entertainers, as well as those of slaves, servicemen, and domestic workers. Distributed by Syndetic Solutions, Inc.

With nearly 200 letters arranged chronologically under broad rubrics (e.g. Family, Courtship and Romance, Poli-tics and Social Justice, Across the Diaspora), Newkirk (Within the Veil) sets out to offer "a sweeping narrative history of the Black American experience." That is too large a claim; only sixteen letters precede the end of the Civil War, and while most of the public correspondence is essential (e.g. Benjamin Banneker to Thomas Jefferson, Phillis Wheatley to George Washington, James Baldwin's letter to his nephew, Martin Luther King Jr.'s letter to white clergymen), Newkirk's principle of selection is unclear. The author's bland section introductions do little to set a context for particular letters, though the head notes are generally useful. About half of the letters were written between 1900 and 1940, but it's up-to-date on the Obama campaign with letters from Rev. Wright and Toni Morrison. This is an instructive, moving even delightful primer on the myriad facets of African American private and public life. (Feb.) Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Journalist Newkirk (Within the Veil) presents correspondence from men and women who lived through the tumultuous events of the 18th through the 21st century, from slavery to the war in Iraq. Politicians, entertainers, slaves, and many more define their struggles and triumphs. Copyright 2008 Reed Business Information. From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information

Adult/High School-This superb collection of more than 200 letters ranges widely in time, subject matter, and language, and as a unit it adds immeasurably to the singular story of a people, expressing in the most intimate terms the hopes, fears, struggles, tragedies, and triumphs of African Americans. From slavery to post-9/11, from Phillis Wheatley to Barack Obama, the book gathers correspondence from politicians, writers, and academics, as well as slaves, sharecroppers, servicemen, and domestic workers. Many well-known names are included: Martin Luther King, Jr., Booker T. Washington, W.E.B. Du Bois, Zora Neale Hurston, Alice Walker. But the most moving entries are the barely literate and astonishingly painful pleas for family, and for simple justice, by otherwise nameless individuals of the Jim Crow era. Here are people with no hope left other than the belief that death will bring the reunion in Heaven of husband and wife, mother and son. The letters are arranged chronologically within broad subject areas such as family, courtship and romance, and politics and social justice. Each section has a brief introduction by Newkirk, just enough to set the stage. There are 16 pages of well-chosen black-and-white photographs, mostly portraits and samples of correspondence. By far, the strength of this volume lies in the indispensable glimpse it provides into the hearts and minds of strong, resilient Americans.-Robert Saunderson, formerly at Berkeley Public Library, CA Copyright 2009 Reed Business Information From: Reed Elsevier Inc. Copyright Reed Business Information