Autobiography of a People: Three Centuries of African American History Told by Those Who Lived It

Do you ever wonder how black people living as slaves described life in America? Herb Boyd, author and journalist, has been a professor of black studies for thirty years. Thus, he is uniquely qualified to distill from the reams of black thought that which might best stand as a fitting testament to African Americana. Editor Boyd has deftly woven the dark backstory to the glamorized myth on which the American Dream rests. The author establishes that blacks in America have never been that content underclass by and large depicted in this country's history books. He disputes the notion, central to American history, that Africans brought to America were docile, uncivilized, unintelligent and, thus, deserving of their lot. Culling from the words of those who did dare to speak out (often with disastrous consequences), Boyd has woven an eloquent, emotional tapestry of the black experience. Its power derives not from any self-conscious rage, but from the simplicity, the unguarded frankness of the voices. This is a timely book, sorely needed at a critical moment in this nation's history.

Twice I attempted to write this review of Herb Boyd's AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A PEOPLE, with it's" three centuries of African American history told by those who lived it" but soon realized I should finish reading it first. His collections (of excerpt) is so powerful so revealing; and each one seem to flow into the next. like a chronological change of events. I can see how it may be differcult for some to believe (and easier to deny) the suffering and sacrificing our ancestors endured, to make possible the freedom and well being we now enjoy. Surely it'll instill pride in we Americans of African descent and Americans of goodwill.. Myself, more so being the fact that I too, made a contribution. An excerpt was selected from my Korean war memoir, WHAT'S A COMMIE EVER DONE TO PEOPLE? (Publishes by McFarland Publishers Inc.). Sure, at the time, I was politically ignorant to the reasons I was there fighting, like many others black soldiers, then we were fighting for our lives, the fight for our freedom, we who survived, was to come on our return t o America.Hopefully, my story, alone with the many others that appears in AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A PEOPLE will help enlighten other 17 & 18 year old American-American to the reality, that the freedom we now enjoy, others fought and died for it. PS; In "AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF A PEOPLE" includes my favorite hero, the adventurous, explorer, scientist and author, Mr. Matthew Henson, who's life story inspired me to be an adventurer.. DARK COMPANION. It was the first book I read. I was nine years old.Again, My Sincere Thanks to you Brother; Herb Boyd your book is a magnificent collection of excerpts. And no doubt it'll serve as an inspiration to many.Peace & Pleasant Writing Curtis J. Morrow

Conversations with Herb BoydWhile I attended New York University in the late 80's, I majored in 18th Century Literature and minored in African American history. Hands down, my biggest challenge was being able to keep up with my reading, and retain all that was required of me by my professors. If only Autobiography of a People Three Centuries of African American History Told By Those Who Lived It, Herb Boyd's newest book had existed years ago when I was a student in college.As I am still a student of African American history, Boyd's book is right on time. Booksellers and African American history buffs who live in Manhattan received a royal treat on Saturday, February 5, 2000 if they tuned in to "Books That Matter" with Leroy Baylor and listened to Boyd talk about his newest success. "Books That Matter," a public access program promotes reading and literacy to a diverse readership and interviews new and well-established authors. Recent guests include: Tavis Smiley, Sapphire, Johnnie Cochran, and William Loren Katz. The show airs on alternate Saturdays in Manhattan on Channel 34 at 10:30 p.m., in Brooklyn on Channels 34 & 67 at 10 p.m. every Friday evening and each Monday evening on Bronx Net at 10:30 p.m.I found Baylor's interview with Boyd enjoyable, and several times I felt like I as a student again learning about the great history of my people. The wonderful rapport between Baylor and Boyd was immediate and a treat for the viewer. The book, which is a compendium of 118 powerful African American voices is quickly being heralded as a New Classic in African American Literature --a compliment it rightly deserves.

This book is an anthology edited by Herb Boyd.It contains compelling material that is written by various authors who tell of the African American experience as they witnessed it.The book should be read by all those who would like to know what has occurred in the collective experience of the only Americans who were brought to this country against their will and treated as chattel. It may surprise many to learn that the African American community is not monolithic.The various voices selected by Mr.Boyd attest to this notion in the telling of the story.Again,this book is one that should be read by everyone who needs or wants to know of the tragedies and triumphs of a proud and glorious people and their multiple experiences in America.

Herb Boyd is well known to readers in New York for his hard-hitting, easy and informative journalistic style. He also deserves to become well-known for his award-winning book on the African American experience, "Brotherman -- The Odessy of Black Men in American," co-edited with Robert Allen. It displays a keen knowledge of African American documentation concerning the role of Black men in our society. His "Down the Glory Road" shows a fine sense of the sweep and force of the African American experience and how it can be rendered in easy-to-grasp prose. Now Boyd has given us the carefully researched and stirring documentary, "Autobiography of People: Three Centuries of African-American History Told by Those who Live it." This is no mere celebration of achievements nor is it a tale of woes and pain. What Boyd has meticulously constructed by ferreting documents famous and unknown from the dusty files of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture and elsewhere is a powerful narrative of Black America told by those women and men who walked the miles, scaled the mountains, fought the battles, suffered the losses and achieved the victories. Here are Africans telling what it meant to be wrenched from peaceful villages and stuffed into suffocating slave ships for the terrifying and deadly voyage across the Atlantic, and then living to fight for their liberty and to tell their tales. Here is the lone African American, Osborne Perry Anderson, who survived the famous John Brown raid in 1859 on Harper's Ferry, and disclosing as no history books used in our schools does how the enslaved population rose up to fight and help Brown and his gallant band, which included four other free men of color. Here is the Harlem Renaissance told in the words of its legendary participants: Langston Hughes, Zora Neal Hurston and others. Here is the civil rights movement captured in its intensity, pain and triumph by Paul Robeson, Rosa Parks, Ella Baker and James Forman. Herb Boyd has given us an America our schools need to study and learn from.