Freedom Facts and Firsts

November 1, 2008
Fisk University professors Smith and Wynn cover arts and entertainment, education, journalism, religion, and more in a guide that highlights pivotal events in black history. Among those profiled are community organizer Ella Baker, Dr. Martin Luther King, activist Rosa Parks, and artist Romare Bearden, all instrumental in making a difference.

Copyright 2008 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2009
Adult/High School-An important addition to Black History Month booklists. From the early abolitionists to the presidential nomination of Barack Obama, the authors have gathered easy-to-read articles on the essential people, places, and events of the black struggle for freedom. Along with mainstay entries for Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and Jesse Owens, the book includes many lesser-known names: abolitionist Mifflin Gibbs, documentary filmmaker Joanne Grant, and desegregation lawyer Louis L. Redding. While most entries are devoted to people, many events, organizations, or movements appear, including Tent City (19601962), the NAACP, and the Underground Railroad. Most are concise enough to serve as ready-reference sources and complete enough to inspire, and point to, further investigation. Because the book is arranged in thematic chapters, and then alphabetically within them, readers will have difficulty finding specific entries without using the index. The quality of the writing and research is generally good, but there are some shortcomings. The article on Muhammad Ali is less than half the length of the one for Wallace E. Perry, the first African American to participate in varsity sports at Vanderbilt. Also, the entries for Malcolm X and for John Carlos and Tommie Smith seem less than adequate, but lesser-known figures get more attention here than most general sources provide."Robert Saunderson, formerly at Berkeley Public Library, CA"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 15, 2009
Edited and written in part by black studies scholar and university librarian Smith and historian Wynn, both at Fisk University, this one-volume encyclopedia documents African Americans' struggle for freedom, from the first slave in Jamestown, VA, in 1619 to 2008 presidential aspirant (now President-Elect) Barack Obama. The work is divided into nine chapters, with headings in alphabetical order that range from "Arts and Entertainment" and "Education" to "Organizations" and "Sports." Within each chapter, the entriesgenerally extending in length less than a page, a page, or a little more than a pageare further organized into subsections within chapters. The chapter on civil rights begins with a subsection ("Cities and Towns") featuring entries such as "black migration" and "Northern states." The book is replete with illustrations and photographs, while block quotes from entries are emphasized in larger point sizes and bolded. Major movements and events get greater treatment than biographies of individualsa noteworthy strength of this work. In addition, entries on lesser-known individuals (e.g., activist William Still) are included beside those on more prominent figures like Sojourner Truth. It should also be noted that contributors are based in Tennessee. BOTTOM LINE Written in a vivid and accessible style, this encyclopedia is highly recommended for high school, public, and community college libraries, where it will serve students well. Recent encyclopedias of African American history are usually scholarly, pricey multivolume sets. This, on the other hand, is an inexpensive and unique effort that does equally well in libraries as it does in bookstores. [Available in print only.]Kam W. Teo, Weyburn P.L., Sask.

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.