Lane here illuminates the African-American experience through a close look at a single city; once the metropolitan headquarters of black America; now typical of many. He recognizes that urban history offers more clues; both to modern accomplishments and to modern problems; than the dead past of rural slavery. The book's historical section is based on hundreds of newly discovered scrapbooks kept by William Henry Dorsey; Philadelphia's first black historian. These provide an intimate and comprehensive view of the critical period between the Civil War and about 1900; when African-Americans; formally free and increasingly urban; made the biggest educational and occupational gains in history. Dorsey's tens of thousands of newspaper clippings and other sources; detail records of high culture and low; success and scandal; personal and public life. In the final chapters Lane outlines the urban situation today; the strong parallels between past and present that suggest the power of continuity and the equally strong differences that point to the possibility of change.
#1521571 in Books 1987-04-23Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.56 x .94 x 6.44l; #File Name: 0195042131320 pagesCivil WarConfederacyHistory19th century
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Ghosts of the ConfederacyBy R LBook condition shipping are great... Contents are as expected. Book is a reasonably good reference read.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Dry but worthwileBy Lauren LechnerI liked this book but didn't love it. It has a lot of great information and is very useful for research but can be dry and slow. Overall though I thought it was good and certainly learned a lot.10 of 10 people found the following review helpful. How did we get to here?By Kindle CustomerI am a son of the South. My Great; Great; Great Grandfather was a Major in the army of the confederacy and was killed in Virginia during the war. I have lived most of my life in South Georgia. I grew up being given a certain set of "facts" and having a certain set of attitudes instilled in me. Reading this book has helped me understand where much of those shared facts and attitudes have come from over time. This is not a book you will sit down and read cover to cover. This is a book that took me nearly a year to read in small pieces. It was worth the time and effort. If you are interested in how we got to be here at this place and time this book will interest you as well.
