An Interview with the Author on the History News NetworkA Founding Father with a Vision of Equality: Richard Newman's op-ed in The Philadelphia InquirerAuthor Spotlight in The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle"Gold" Winner of the 2008 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Award; Biography CategoryFreedom's Prophet is a long-overdue biography of Richard Allen; founder of the first major African-American church and the leading black activist of the early American republic. A tireless minister; abolitionist; and reformer; Allen inaugurated some of the most important institutions in African-American history and influenced nearly every black leader of the nineteenth century; from Douglass to Du Bois.Allen (1760–1831) was born a slave in colonial Philadelphia; secured his freedom during the American Revolution; and became one of the nations leading black activists before the Civil War. Among his many achievements; Allen helped form the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church; co-authored the first copyrighted pamphlet by an African American writer; published the first African American eulogy of George Washington; and convened the first national convention of black reformers. In a time when most black men and women were categorized as slave property; Allen was championed as a black hero. As Richard S. Newman writes; Allen must be considered one of America's black Founding Fathers.In this thoroughly engaging and beautifully written book; Newman describes Allen's continually evolving life and thought; setting both in the context of his times. From Allen's early antislavery struggles and belief in interracial harmony to his later reflections on black democracy and black emigration; Newman traces Allen's impact on American reform and reformers; on racial attitudes during the years of the early republic; and on the black struggle for justice in the age of Adams; Jefferson; Madison; and Washington. Whether serving as Americas first black bishop; challenging slaveholding statesmen in a nation devoted to liberty; or visiting the President's House (the first black activist to do so); this important book makes it clear that Allen belongs in the pantheon of Americas great founding figures. Freedom's Prophet reintroduces Allen to today's readers and restores him to his rightful place in our nation's history.
#633389 in Books NYU Press 2008-04-05 2008-04-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x .86 x 6.13l; 1.01 #File Name: 0814716954329 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Descriptive and diverseBy Z. T. HeiseI was assigned this book for a Jewish History class at my university; and so far I'm really enjoying it. We read one of the autobiographies each week; and I feel that Cohen has done an excellent job of bringing together stories from different backgrounds and different experiences; and even has a married couple each tell their stories in their own autobiographies.I'll be honest; I was expecting it to be boring - but am very pleasantly surprised to find that it's not!3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Immediate; poignant and fills gaps in my knowledge very nicelyBy Dr. C. G. OakleyThe older brother of Minnie Goldstein; who wrote the first of the autobiographies that appear in the book; is my great-grandfather and what seems to have been passed down through the generations is a somewhat sanitised version of the truth ... I really had no idea about their dreadful poverty; or the fact that a contributing factor to Hershl Malinberg's emigration from Warsaw to the U.S. was being cheated in business by his own mother-in-law. Of course; the story has particular resonance for her own kith and kin; but it contains so much vivid detail; and is told so well; that I would recommend it to anyone.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Excellent primary sourceBy Basingstoke"My Future Is In America" contains excellent primary source material for the student of Jewish immigration to this country and immigration history in general. The individual essays are captivating and very readable; providing a wealth of information about the immigrant experience; not only after arrival in America; but also about life in Europe pre-immigration. This book should be considered as reading in American Studies curricula.
