First published 1999
Gates and Appiah fulfill W.E.B. Du Bois's vision by compiling the first complete scholarly encyclopedia covering Africa and its global diaspora. The authors gather over three thousand entries spanning two million words, from affirmative action to zydeco music. They include every major African ethnic group and each Congressional Black Caucus member. The work traces slavery's history, chronicles the civil rights movement, and examines African American contributions to literature, music, and art. Ancient African civilizations receive detailed treatment alongside the black experience in France, India, and Russia. Over one thousand illustrations including maps, photographs, and charts complement the text. Notable writers like Stanley Crouch, Gerald Early, Randall Kennedy, and Cornel West contribute extended essays exploring religion, arts, and cultural life across the African diaspora. The encyclopedia connects related topics through cross-references, guiding readers through interconnected subjects. This single volume serves both as a library reference tool and an engaging reading experience for anyone studying black history and African cultural influence worldwide.
Genres: history, reference, african-american, african-literature, academic, cultural-studies
Vibes: educational, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: non-fiction, reference-work
Setting: Africa, France, India, Russia
Period: 19th-Century, 20th-Century, 21st-Century
2095 pages · Hardcover · Civitas Books