Letters from Black America

Letters from Black Americafills a literary and historical void by presenting the pantheon of African American experience in the most intimate way possiblethrough the heartfelt correspondence of the men and women who lived through monumental changes and pivotal events, from the 1700s to the twenty-first century, from slavery to the war in Iraq. nbsp; 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. From a slave who writes to his wife on the eve of being sold, to famous documents like Martin Luther King Jr.s Letter from a Birmingham Jail, these writings illuminate the struggles and triumphs, hardships and glory, in the unforgettable words of the participants themselves.Letters from Black Americais an indispensable addition to our countrys literary tradition, historical understanding, and self-knowledge.nbsp