This first encyclopedic volume on black America fills a long-neglected need. No other work is as comprehensive, as thoroughly researched, as authoritative. More than eighty contributors—all experts in their fields—have cooperated to make this an eminently readable and reliable reference source, representing the totality of the past and present culture of Afro-Americans.The panorama of black life in America is surveyed here. The encyclopedia traces black history from Africa, through the Atlantic slave trade, into the colonial period, the Civil War, and Reconstruction, right up to a detailed analysis of the Civil Rights movement. Specialized discussions include various aspects of slavery: its relationship to the framing of the Constitution, its appearance on the frontier, emancipation, slave narratives, and the legal history of slavery in eight states. Other topics covered in detail are black folklore, poetry, literature, dance, music, sculpture, painting, athletics, education, religion, and the sciences.The easy-access A-to-Z format allows the reader to locate individuals, topics, organizations such as the NAACP, SNCC, Black Panther Party, and numerous social, economic, and educational groups. For years to come, this is certain to remain the source for anyone seeking authoritative information and insightful commentary on the vital culture of black America. Read Less