Black Profiles in Courage

by Abdul-Jabbar, Kareem

• ISBN13: 9780380813414
• ISBN10: 0380813416
• Format: Paperback
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publications

Summary

In this ideal introduction to black history, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar examines the lives of heroic African Americans and offers their stories as inspiring examples for young people, who too rarely encounter positive black role models in history books or in the media.Profiled here are Peter Salem, the volunteer soldier who turned the tide at Bunker Hill; Joseph Cinque, leader of a daring revolt on the slave ship Amistad; Frederick Douglass, self-taught writer-orator and escaped slave who forced President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation years ahead of schedule; Harriet Tubman, who led at least three hundred slaves to freedom; Lewis Latimer, whose scientific work was integral to the achievements of Bell and Edison; and many more.Shining a bright light on the touchstones of character, these exemplary stories reemphasize the integral role of African Americans in weaving the fabric of our nation and form an empowering legacy from which Americans of all ages can draw inspiration, wisdom, and pride.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Acknowledgments	xv
Introduction	xix
Exploration	1	(15)
Estevanico Black presence in the Americas
Revolution	16	(32)
The First Rhode Island • Peter Salem • Salem Poor • James Armistead Lafayette • Crispus Attucks • Black heroes of the Revolutionary War
Resistance	48	(26)
Black Revolt
Joseph Cinque
Incitement	74	(27)
Freedom on the world stage
Frederick Douglass
Escape	101	(22)
Freedom in the shadows
Harriet Tubman
Respect	123	(32)
Black Individualism in the West
Bass Reeves
Defense	155	(43)
Blacks in the military
Discovery	198	(22)
Black intellectual achievement
Lewis H. Latimer
Change	220	(29)
Black heart
Rosa Parks
Bibliography	249	(4)
Index	253