A Junior History of the American Negro. Volume One: Discovery to the Civil War
New York and London: Fleet Press Corporation, 1969. First Edition. The first volume of a two-volume textbook of African Americans written for younger readers and published during a period of increasing demands for the inclusion of black history in American school curricula. Beginning with the early European exploration of the Americas and concluding with the Civil War, Goodman examines the African origins of Black Americans, the development of slavery, the participation of African Americans in the American Revolution, westward expansion, the growth of abolitionism, and the early struggle for civil rights. The text is supplemented by historical illustrations, documentary material, an index, and a concluding review section containing exercises intended for classroom instruction.
In his foreword dated February 1969, prominent African American psychologist and civil rights advocate Kenneth B. Clark argues that the systematic neglect of black contributions to American history has impoverished the education of all American children and contributed to persistent racial prejudice. Clark emphasizes the importance of incorporating historically accurate accounts of African American achievement into primary and secondary education and praises Goodman's work as a contribution toward correcting these deficiencies. A second volume was published the following year.
Illustrated cloth boards featuring an African American figure superimposed over the American flag; 144 pp., illustrated throughout; review questions for each chapter are included in the rear. A near fine copy. Item #15454
Price: $250.00