Delve into the turbulent roots of race relations in the United States with this inspirational account from Booker T. Washington, a one-time slave who became an important advocate for African-American education and founded several well-known institutions of higher learning, including the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.

Relates the experiences of a Colonel in the First South Carolina Volunteers, the first ex-slave regiment mustered by the U.S. in the Civil War.

Nella Larsen was an important writer associated with the Harlem Renaissance. While she was not prolific her work was powerful and critically acclaimed. Passing confronts the reality of racial passing. The novel focuses on two childhood friends Clare and Irene, both of whom are light skinned enough to pass as white, who have reconnected with one another after many years apart. Clare has chosen to pass while Irene has embraced her racial heritage and...

"Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings" by Joel Chandler Harris is a timeless collection of African American folktales that resonate with the charm and wisdom of the Deep South's oral tradition. Published in 1881, these tales are framed through the character of Uncle Remus, a wise and kindly old freedman who shares stories with children. Harris's work captures the essence of plantation life and the rich oral history passed down through generations....

The Conjure Woman (1899) is a collection of stories by African American author, lawyer, and political activist Charles Chesnutt. "The Goophered Grapevine," the collection's opening story, was originally published in The Atlantic in 1887, making Chesnutt the first African American to have a story published in the magazine. The Conjure Woman is now considered a masterpiece of African American fiction for its use of folklore and exploration of racist...

During the 1890s, Ida Wells-Barnett began documenting lynching in the United States. Her findings, which were based on frequent claims that lynchings were reserved for black criminals only, were published in articles and through her pamphlet called Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in all its Phases. Wells exposed lynching as a barbaric practice of whites in the South used to intimidate and oppress African Americans who created economic and political competition-and...

A compilation of insightful essays and speeches by the renowned abolitionist and orator, Frederick Douglass. This collection brings together some of his most powerful and eloquent writings on the issues of slavery, freedom, and racial justice, showcasing his intellectual brilliance and tireless advocacy for the rights of African Americans. Through his incisive analysis and powerful rhetoric, Douglass challenges the prevailing views of his time and...

The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories by Alice Moore Dunbar-Nelson is a highly acclaimed collection of short stories that provides insight into the lives of African Americans in the early 20th century. Through her vivid and evocative writing, Dunbar-Nelson takes readers on a journey through the struggles and triumphs of her characters as they strive to achieve social equity in a racially divided society.

Violets and Other Tales by Alice Moore Dunbar-Nelson is a collection of short stories that serves as a testament to the author's contribution to African American literature. Characterized by its nuanced examination of race and gender in early 20th century America, this work effectively transcends the boundaries of genre and offers insight into the human experience in a manner that is both poignant and enlightening.