Keisha N. Blain je historičkou zabývající se Spojenými státy 20. století, s rozsáhlými interdisciplinárními zájmy v oblasti africko-americké historie, moderní africké diaspory a studií žen a genderu. Její práce odhaluje zásadní roli, kterou ženy hrály při budování černošských nacionalistických a internacionalistických protestních hnutí. Blain se zaměřuje na černošský internacionalismus, radikální politiku a globální feminismus. Její analýzy nabízejí hluboký vhled do historie africko-amerických žen a jejich boje za svobodu.
Der Bestseller von Ibram X. Kendi und Keisha N. Blain erzählt die 400-jährige Geschichte der afrikanischen Amerikaner von 1619 bis heute. 80 Autorinnen und Autoren beleuchten verschiedene Perspektiven, von historischen Ikonen bis zu einfachen Menschen, und thematisieren Widerstand, Hoffnung und die kulturellen Beiträge der Schwarzen Community in Amerika.
The story begins with the arrival of twenty Ndongo people on the shores of the first British colony in mainland America in 1619, the year before the arrival of the Mayflower. In eighty chronological chapters, each by a different author and spanning five years, the book charts the four-hundred-year journey of African Americans to the present -- a journey defined by inhuman oppression, visionary struggles and stunning achievements -- in a choral work of exceptional power and beauty. Contributors include some of the leading writers, historians, journalists, lawyers, poets and activists of contemporary America. They use a variety of techniques -- historical essays, short stories, personal vignettes and fiery polemics and approach history from various perspectives -- through the eyes of towering historical icons or the untold stories of ordinary people, populating these pages with hundreds of extraordinary lives and personalities. Together they illuminate countless new facets to the story of slavery and resistance, segregation and survival, migration and self-discovery, reinvention and hope. Through its diversity of perspectives the book shows that to be African American means many different things and demonstrates the startling range of experiences and ideas that have always existed within the community of Blackness. Four Hundred Souls is an essential work that redefines America and the way its history can be told.
National Book Critics Circle 2021 Biography Finalist and 53rd NAACP Image Award recipient, this work offers a riveting exploration of Fannie Lou Hamer’s life, serving as both a historical lesson and a guide for modern activists. It addresses pressing social issues such as voter suppression, police violence, and economic inequality through the lens of Hamer's political strategies and ideas. Hamer, a working-poor and disabled Black woman, emerges as a key political thinker alongside figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, demonstrating the continued relevance of her insights for today's activists fighting against oppression. Despite facing significant challenges, Hamer's commitment to social justice never wavered. Her refusal to be marginalized or intimidated by those with more privilege underscores her resilience and determination. This book amplifies her voice, allowing readers to deeply engage with her words and thoughts, as if sitting beside her in conversation. Over 40 years after her passing, Hamer's messages resonate powerfully, exposing societal flaws and providing guidance on advancing the ideals of equality and justice for all. The book includes a photo insert capturing Hamer’s pivotal moments in the civil rights movement, enhancing the reader's connection to her legacy.