Freedom In My Heart Voices From The United States National Slavery Museum

by Franklin, John; Wilder, L.; Cosby, Bill

• ISBN13: 9781426201271
• ISBN10: 1426201273
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-01-06
• Publisher: National Geographic

Summary

Unlike any other book on the market today, this richly illustrated companion volume uses the remarkable artifacts, images, and documents of the United States National Slavery Museum to trace the entire history of slavery in North America, from the societies of ancient Africa to the repercussions still faced by Americans today--and to celebrate the perseverance and ultimate triumph of a people.Freedom in My Heartgoes beyond the textbooks to call forth the unique voices, personal stories, and cultural contributions of slaves and their descendants, demonstrating how enslaved African Americans remained free at heart to develop a vibrant culture in the face of unspeakable inhumanity. Following a foreword by L. Douglas Wilder, the grandson of former slaves and the first African-American elected governor of a U.S. state, ten compelling chapters offer the often unheard testimony of those who witnessed slavery and those whose ancestors endured it. Their voices blend with the contributions of such luminaries as South African leader Nelson Mandela, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, noted journalist Juan Williams, entertainers Bill Cosby and Ben Vereen, and many more. This partnership with the National Slavery Museum grants exclusive access to never-before-seen images, personal letters, and artifacts, which shed new light on slavery and the activities surrounding it. As the museum nears its opening, numerous press events and online features will publicize the book, giving unprecedented exposure at a time of great anticipation and interest.

Author Biography

Dr. Cynthia Jacobs Carter is currently a Research Scholar at Georgetown University and the founder and sitting President of The Africana Women’s Institute in Washington, D.C. An author and lecturer, she authored Africana Woman: Her Story Through Time and has designed and taught courses in women’s studies and African-American culture, including "Black Women in the African Diaspora" and "The Gullah Culture." Dr. Carter has also curated several exhibitions about women of African descent, including "Africana Women at the Dawn of the New Millennium," which was sponsored by the White House Millennium Council and The George Washington University.

Table of Contents

We are one people

Homeland

Stolen away

Life in a new world

Building a culture

Resistance to slavery

Quest for freedom

Legacy of slavery

I, too, am America

Truth and reflection

Epilogue

Afterword

Bibliography

About the contributors

Illustration credits

Index

Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.