Profiles one of the most extraordinary writers of the twentieth century, from his birth in Missouri in 1902, through his journeys around the world to the winter of 1941, providing insights into his political views.

"The extraordinary life of Jackie Robinson is illuminated as never before in this full-scale biography by Arnold Rampersad, who was chosen by Jack's widow, Rachel, to tell her husband's story, and was given unprecedented access to his private papers. We are brought closer than we have ever been to the great ballplayer, a man of courage and quality who became a pivotal figure in the areas of race and civil rights. Born in the rural South, the son of...

A remarkable and inspiring memoir by a remarkable and inspiring human being: Arthur Ashe, embodiment of courage and grace in every aspect of his life, from his triumphs as a great tennis champion and his determined social activism to his ordeal in the face of death, a casualty of AIDS. As he brings us into his childhood in Richmond, Virginia, where he was born in 1943, where his mother died when he was six, and where he was raised by a loving but...

"'The ultimate book for both the dabbler and serious scholar. -- [Hughes] is sumptuous and sharp, playful and sparse, grounded in an earthy music -- This book is a glorious revelation.'--Boston Globe Spanning five decades and comprising 868 poems (nearly 300 of which have never before appeared in book form), this magnificent volume is the definitive sampling of a writer who has been called the poet laureate of African America--and perhaps our greatest...

"W. E. B. Du Bois was a public intellectual, sociologist, and activist on behalf of the African American community. He profoundly shaped black political culture in the United States through his founding role in the NAACP, as well as internationally through the Pan-African movement. Du Bois's sociological and historical research on African-American communities and culture broke ground in many areas, including the history of the post-Civil War Reconstruction...

This is the first comprehensive selection from the correspondence of the iconic and beloved Langston Hughes. It offers a life in letters that showcases his many struggles as well as his memorable achievements. Arranged by decade and linked by expert commentary, the volume guides us through Hughes's journey in all its aspects: personal, political, practical, and--above all--literary. His letters range from those written to family members, notably his...

From a March 1992 conference at Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, 17 essays examine the life, work, and legacy of African-American writer and activist Hughes (1902-67). Many of the contributors knew him personally. They discuss his pre- eminent role in the Harlem Renaissance; issues of race, culture, and gender; his personal library and exhibits; and his drama. c. Book News Inc.

"Contributors reexamine the continuing relevance of Langston Hughes's work and life to American, African American, and diasporic literatures and cultures. Includes fresh perspectives on the often overlooked "Luani of the Jungles," Black Magic, and works for children, as well as Hughes's more familiar fiction, poetry, essays, dramas, and other writings"--Provided by publisher

Presents twelve essays that examine the writings and influence of African-American scholar W.E.B. DuBois, as well as a chronology, a bibliography, and an introduction by Harold Bloom.

Though one of America's best known and loved novels, Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has often been the object of fierce controversy because of its racist language and reliance on racial stereotypes. This collection of fifteen essays by prominent African American scholars and critics examines the novel's racist elements and assesses the degree to which Twain's ironies succeed or fail to turn those elements into a satirical attack on racism....