Another View: To Be Black in America is a historical and literary anthology edited by Gerald Messner that captures the complex realities of African American life, identity, and resistance. Published at the turn of the decade following the peak of the civil rights movement, the book compiles essays, speeches, and academic writings from definitive Black intellectuals, sociologists, and activists like W.E.B. Du Bois, Malcolm X, and E. Franklin Frazier. The primary objective of the collection is to challenge monolithic, mainstream white narratives of the era by presenting a nuanced, internal look at the diverse ideologies, debates, and intellectual rigor defining the Black community.
Through these selected writings, the anthology thoroughly examines the profound psychological, economic, and social impacts of systemic racism in the United States. By juxtaposing contrasting perspectives, Messner highlights the varied paths toward liberation championed during the era, ranging from structural reform and integration to radical Black nationalism and self-determination. Ultimately, the volume serves as a critical historical time capsule that preserves the urgent sociopolitical discourse of the late 1960s, offering an enduring foundational text for understanding race relations and the ongoing struggle for civil rights in America.
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Paperback, good condition. Wear to cover edges, creasing on spine. Very slight yellowing to page edges. Previous owner's name inscribed on flyleaf. Binding is tight.
Published by Harcourt, Brace & World, 1970. First edition.
ISBN: 0155028103