Greatest Blacks Ever

From an article entitled “History’s Black Hole” from the January 10, 2016 global edition of the New York Daily News, Arthur Browne opines, “Across every field of endeavor, from the ministry to medicine and from education to entrepreneurship, book merchants balk at memorializing black experience and accomplishments.” Essentially, this book is a celebration of black accomplishments—over centuries and across continents—and seeks to fill a portion of that “black hole.” Of the roughly 7 billion people who inhabit this planet, some 1.5 billion are classified as white, and blacks account for 1.1 billion. The remaining over 4 billion are somewhere in the middle. Yet, throughout the years, a paucity of written materials have recorded the positive influences and myriad contributions that the great number of black citizens have made toward global peace, progress, prosperity, and pleasure.

Since 1619, when Africans first came ashore in the swampy Chesapeake region of Virginia, there have been many individuals whose achievements or strength of character in the face of monumental hardships have called attention to the genius of the African American people. This book attempts to distill from many wonderful possibilities the 100 most outstanding examples of greatness. Pioneering scholar of African American Studies Molefi Kete Asante has used four criteria in his selection: the individual''s significance in the general progress of African Americans toward full equality in the American social and political system; self-sacrifice and the demonstration of risk for the collective good; unusual will and determination in the face of the greatest danger or against the most stubborn odds; and personal achievement that reveals the best qualities of the African American people. In adopting these criteria Professor Asante has sought to steer away from the usual standards of popular culture, which often elevates the most popular, the wealthiest, or the most photogenic to the cult of celebrity. The individuals in this book - examples of lasting greatness as opposed to the ephemeral glare of celebrity fame - come from four centuries of African American history. Each entry includes brief biographical information, relevant dates, an assessment of the individual''s place in African American history with particular reference to a historical timeline, and a discussion of his or her unique impact on American society. Numerous pictures and illustrations will accompany the articles. This superb reference work will complement any library and be of special interest to students and scholars of American and African American history.

Presenting short biographies of 100 extraordinary African Americans, this volume serves as a reference for scholars and an inspiration to the general reader. Asante profiles individuals who overcame great difficulty to make a contribution towards social and political equality for African Americans. The author teaches African American studies at Temple University and is the founding editor of the Journal of Black Studies. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

Lists and ranks those black Americans who have had the greatest impact on the progress toward complete participation in our society.

NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD WINNER • NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this beautifully written masterwork, the Pulitzer Prize–winnner and bestselling author of Caste chronicles one of the great untold stories of American history: the decades-long migration of black citizens who fled the South for northern and western cities, in search of a better life. From 1915 to 1970, this exodus of almost six million people changed the face of America. Wilkerson compares this epic migration to the migrations of other peoples in history. She interviewed more than a thousand people, and gained access to new data and official records, to write this definitive and vividly dramatic account of how these American journeys unfolded, altering our cities, our country, and ourselves. With stunning historical detail, Wilkerson tells this story through the lives of three unique individuals: Ida Mae Gladney, who in 1937 left sharecropping and prejudice in Mississippi for Chicago, where she achieved quiet blue-collar success and, in old age, voted for Barack Obama when he ran for an Illinois Senate seat; sharp and quick-tempered George Starling, who in 1945 fled Florida for Harlem, where he endangered his job fighting for civil rights, saw his family fall, and finally found peace in God; and Robert Foster, who left Louisiana in 1953 to pursue a medical career, the personal physician to Ray Charles as part of a glitteringly successful medical career, which allowed him to purchase a grand home where he often threw exuberant parties. Wilkerson brilliantly captures their first treacherous and exhausting cross-country trips by car and train and their new lives in colonies that grew into ghettos, as well as how they changed these cities with southern food, faith, and culture and improved them with discipline, drive, and hard work. Both a riveting microcosm and a major assessment, The Warmth of Other Suns is a bold, remarkable, and riveting work, a superb account of an “unrecognized immigration” within our own land. Through the breadth of its narrative, the beauty of the writing, the depth of its research, and the fullness of the people and lives portrayed herein, this book is destined to become a classic.

"This book is about instruction. It's about how one comports himself now that he is successful. It's about guidance in all the areas of life that can be mysteries to the modern man." --Esquire editor-in-chief David Granger No more second-guessing--thanks to the only guide with the power to transform a man into a complete success. Esquire's The Biggest Black Book Ever shows you how to do everything right, in every area of your life. From work and grooming to fitness and sex, it's got 1,037 tricks, techniques, and secrets so you can handle yourself with confidence and style, whether you're meeting the boss, going on a first date, or attending a black-tie event. Includes 875 photos and illustrations.

This book summarizes the lives of the great black people that have made great contributions to the lives of many Worldwide. The book has brief detailed biographies of black activists, scientists, educators, entertainers, musicians, inventors, politicians, authors, sportsmen & women, and others who have surpassed the normal to make historical marks on society. The biographical account of each individual provides relevant dates, events and achievements by the individual. There are pictures and excellent drawings that highlight particular moments in history. This is one of the greatest pieces of work on black history and it will appeal to everyone including, students, groups, universities, libraries, schools and anyone interested in history of black people in the World.

Oneness is hard to achieve. Let the kingdom unity of Scripture point the way. Today’s world is torn apart. Tension is everywhere. Brother is pitted against brother, sister against sister, citizen against citizen, even Christian against Christian. It’s so hard to find agreement—much less real harmony—in our polarized society. Can there be a way forward? Tony Evans knows how elusive unity can be. As a black man who’s also a leader in white evangelicalism, he understands how hard it can be to bring these worlds together. Yet he’s convinced that the gospel provides a way for Christians to find oneness despite the things that divide us. In the Word of God, we find a kingdom-based approach to matters of history, culture, the church, and social justice. In this book, you’ll get: A Biblical Look at Oneness A Historical View of the Black Church A Kingdom Vision for Societal Impact Although oneness is hard to achieve, the Christian must never stop striving. It’s a kingdom imperative. As Tony reminds us, “Glorifying God is our ultimate goal. Oneness exists to enable us to reach our goal.”