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100 African Americans Who Changed American History
Arranged chronologically and covering all aspects of American history, each title in this series contains capsule biographies that mix the essential accomplishments of their subjects with fascinating, lesser-known details, as well as time lines, quizzes, and suggested projects.
112 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2005
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February 4, 2021
I am specifically reviewing the 2005 World Almanac Library edition, which deserves only 2 stars because of sloppy editing and ridiculous errors.
The content itself is good, especially when used as a starting point to find out more. Each person gets a single page if two columns with a black and white photograph or sketçh, and an encyclopedic entry in the notable achievements and events in their lives. Occasionally there is a brief reference to any controversy in their lives, but this book is about heroes, and nuances can come later.
It does sometimes veer into speculation. Do we really know enough about Crispus Attucks to say he was a brave leader among sailors and revolutionary patriots? Do we really know his thought processes as he stepped into the fray that ended as the Boston Massacre? And, really, when he encouraged others to join him by assuring them that the British soldiers wouldn't dare to shoot them, is it reasonable to claim he believed dying for liberty was worth it? Maybe he did, but on that occasion, he didn't expect to be shot. He didn't think he was risking his life.
Sometimes unsupported or inaccurate claims are made-
"Preaching for the creation of a 'black God,' Turner forced people to face that even their religion glorified a white man." I dislike the style of the sentence and disagree with the conclusion.
The man called the creator of the gas mask did not create a gas mask, but a bag that prevented smoke inhalation through a series of tubes that hung to the ground beneath the smoke layer. It had no effect, nor was it intended to, against other gases. The claim that whites canceled contracts when they found he was a black man might be true, but other accounts say there are no surviving records of contracts and sales.
His invention did save lives and later provided the idea behind gas masks, and that is a significant achievement. The claims are just slightly overstated more than one place, but, again, it's a very useful starting place for learning more.
The claim is made that Frederick Douglass convinced Lincoln to free all the slaves, immediately, so Lincoln issued the Emancipation proclamation. But the Emancipation proclamation freed not a single slave and it was not intended to.
Most regrettable, this edition is riddled with strange typos and odd sentences. Here are some examples:
A first line of one of Claude McKay's poems is given as 'if we must die, let it not be like bogs.' (dogs)
About another person, 'she had readied a pinnacle of international appeal.' (reached)
"Along with her hate for slavery, Turner's mother..."
Sometimes " is used for an apostrophe, other times a quote only has one quotation mark. Few quotes are sourced.
A different edition with these issues corrected would get another star.
The content itself is good, especially when used as a starting point to find out more. Each person gets a single page if two columns with a black and white photograph or sketçh, and an encyclopedic entry in the notable achievements and events in their lives. Occasionally there is a brief reference to any controversy in their lives, but this book is about heroes, and nuances can come later.
It does sometimes veer into speculation. Do we really know enough about Crispus Attucks to say he was a brave leader among sailors and revolutionary patriots? Do we really know his thought processes as he stepped into the fray that ended as the Boston Massacre? And, really, when he encouraged others to join him by assuring them that the British soldiers wouldn't dare to shoot them, is it reasonable to claim he believed dying for liberty was worth it? Maybe he did, but on that occasion, he didn't expect to be shot. He didn't think he was risking his life.
Sometimes unsupported or inaccurate claims are made-
"Preaching for the creation of a 'black God,' Turner forced people to face that even their religion glorified a white man." I dislike the style of the sentence and disagree with the conclusion.
The man called the creator of the gas mask did not create a gas mask, but a bag that prevented smoke inhalation through a series of tubes that hung to the ground beneath the smoke layer. It had no effect, nor was it intended to, against other gases. The claim that whites canceled contracts when they found he was a black man might be true, but other accounts say there are no surviving records of contracts and sales.
His invention did save lives and later provided the idea behind gas masks, and that is a significant achievement. The claims are just slightly overstated more than one place, but, again, it's a very useful starting place for learning more.
The claim is made that Frederick Douglass convinced Lincoln to free all the slaves, immediately, so Lincoln issued the Emancipation proclamation. But the Emancipation proclamation freed not a single slave and it was not intended to.
Most regrettable, this edition is riddled with strange typos and odd sentences. Here are some examples:
A first line of one of Claude McKay's poems is given as 'if we must die, let it not be like bogs.' (dogs)
About another person, 'she had readied a pinnacle of international appeal.' (reached)
"Along with her hate for slavery, Turner's mother..."
Sometimes " is used for an apostrophe, other times a quote only has one quotation mark. Few quotes are sourced.
A different edition with these issues corrected would get another star.
Displaying 1 of 1 review