Relating to African American people

Filmatized in 2013 and the official recipient of three Oscars, Solomon Northup's powerful slave narrative 'Twelve Years a Slave' depicts Nortup's life as he is sold into slavery after having spent 32 years of his life living as a free man in New York.Working as a travelling musician, Northup goes to Washington D.C, where he is kidnapped, sent to New Orleans, and sold to a planter to suffer the relentless and brutal life of a slave.After a dozen years, Northup escapes to return to his family and pulls no punches, as he describes his fate and that of so many other black people at the time.It is a harrowing but vitally important book, even today. For further reading on this subject, try 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' by Harriet Beecher Stowe.Solomon Northup (c.1807-c.1875) was an American abolitionist and writer, best remembered for his powerful race memoir 'Twelve Years a Slave'.At the age of 32, when he was a married farmer, father-of-three, violinist and free-born man, he was kidnapped in Washington D.C and shipped to New Orleans, sold to a planter and enslaved for a dozen years.When he gained his freedom, he wrote his famous memoir and spent some years lecturing across the US,on behalf of the abolitionist movement.'Twelve Years a Slave' was published a year after 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' by Harriet Beecher Stowe and built on the anti-slavery momentum it had developed.Northup's final years are something of a mystery, though it is thought that he struggled to cope with family life after being freed.

The second of Douglass’ three autobiographies, ‘My Bondage and My Freedom’ details his transition from youth to adulthood, while under the bonds of slavery.Even when he manages to escape, he discovers that his struggles to be treated and seen as an equal aren’t over, even when he reaches the apparently-libertarian Northern states.Unflinching in his recollections of brutality and psychological torment, Douglass paints a picture composed of sadness, anger, and compassion.A stunning and important work. 'My Bondage and My Freedom' should be read by anyone and everyone.Frederick Douglass (1818-1995) was an American abolitionist and author. Born into slavery in Maryland, he was of African, European, and Native American descent. He was separated from his mother at a young age and lived with his grandmother until he was moved to another plantation.Frederick was taught his alphabet by the wife of one of his owners, a knowledge he passed on to other slaves. In 1838, he successfully escaped slavery by jumping on a north-bound train. After less than 24 hours, he was in New York and free.The same year, he married the woman that had inspired his run for freedom and started working actively as a social reformer, orator, statesman, and women’s rights defender.He remains most known today for his 1845 autobiography "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave."

‘Abolition Fanaticism in New York’ is a speech written by Douglass and delivered in 1847.Proving that the pen can be mightier than the sword, Douglass deftly used his linguistic abilities to create a rousing appeal to the English to shame America into abolishing slavery.Witty, moving, and always intelligent, this is a superb read for anyone with an interest in one of America’s most unsung heroes.Frederick Douglass (1818-1995) was an American abolitionist and author. Born into slavery in Maryland, he was of African, European, and Native American descent. He was separated from his mother at a young age and lived with his grandmother until he was moved to another plantation.Frederick was taught his alphabet by the wife of one of his owners, a knowledge he passed on to other slaves. In 1838, he successfully escaped slavery by jumping on a north-bound train. After less than 24 hours, he was in New York and free.The same year, he married the woman that had inspired his run for freedom and started working actively as a social reformer, orator, statesman, and women’s rights defender.He remains most known today for his 1845 autobiography "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave".

For fans of American history and the abolition of slavery, 'Clotel' follows two sisters who are the fictional slave daughters of Thomas Jefferson. After Thomas Jefferson's death, Clotel and her sister Althesa encounter many hardships, with the women making heroic decisions in order to keep themselves safe and preserve their families.A harrowing story of huge importance, 'Clotel' is the first novel published by an African American. With historic overtones, the story looks at how slavery destroyed African-American families and tore them apart, and the difficulties mixed-raced people faced living in the mid-1800s.Those who enjoyed Ellen Watkins Harper's 'Iola Leroy' should certainly explore this gripping historical novel!William Wells Brown was a prominent abolitionist lecturer, novelist, playwright, and historian in the United States. He was born into slavery in Montgomery County, Kentucky and escaped to Ohio in 1834 at the age of 19.He settled in Boston where he worked for abolitionist causes and became a prolific writer. His novel Clotel (1853), considered the first novel written by an African American, was published in London, where he resided at the time; it was later published in the United States.Brown was a pioneer in travel writing, fiction, and drama literary genres. In 1858 he became the first published African-American playwright and following the Civil War, in 1867 he published what is considered the first history of African Americans in the Revolutionary War. He was among the first writers inducted to the Kentucky Writers Hall of Fame, established in 2013.Brown was lecturing in England when the 1850 Fugitive Slave Law was passed in the US. As its provisions increased the risk of capture and re-enslavement, he stayed overseas for several years and traveled throughout Europe. After his freedom was purchased in 1854 by a British couple, he and his two daughters returned to the US.

Born into the squalor and humiliation of slavery, Frederick Douglass seemed destined for a lifetime of misery. So how did he break the shackles and become a world-famous abolitionist, author and statesman?In 'Frederick Douglass: A Biography', Charles W. Chesnutt recounts the remarkable life story of a man who left a permanent mark on the ongoing struggle for freedom and civil rights.Writing in a pacy style that does justice to the near-unbelievable events, Chesnutt tells of Douglass's escape from slavery in Maryland and his perilous and fearless journey to become the leader of the abolitionist movement.His brilliant oratory and leadership skills were a resounding counter-punch to slaveholders' and many others' arguments that enslaved people did not have the intellect to become American citizens.Chesnutt goes on to tell how Douglass courted controversy by engaging with slave owners, saying: "I would unite with anybody to do right and with nobody to do wrong."'Frederick Douglass: A Biography' will delight readers of 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead and 'The Interesting Narrative' by Olaudah Equiano.Charles Waddell Chesnutt (1858-1932) was an African-American writer, political essayist and lawyer. He was best known for novels and short stories that confronted and explored post-Civil War racial and social identity issues.His best-known works include 'Frederick Douglass – A Biography', 'The House Behind the Cedars' and 'The Colonel’s Dream'.He gained new fame during the US civil rights movement in the 20th century, with many of his books being republished.In 2008, he was the subject of a commemorative stamp.

A fictional tale set in America at the turn of the 20th century, ‘The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man’ tells the story of a mixed-race man whose lighter skin allows him to pass for a white man when the need arises.Charting his journey across the racial divides, it describes his journey from a black college kid in Jacksonville to a successful man living in the white suburbs of the Northeast.This gripping, powerful novel is a landmark work in black American literary history, and its unsentimental look at race relations in America describes many of the racial issues that still affect the country to this day.‘The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man’ is perfect for readers of Brit Bennett's ´The Vanishing Half´.James Weldon Johnson, (1871-1938) was a poet, musician, writer, and diplomat. As a composer, he and his brother John Rosamond Johnson wrote ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’, based on his poem of the same name. It later became a national anthem for many African Americans. The pair went on to write over 200 songs on Broadway.Johnson’s writing includes the works ´The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man’ and ‘Fifty Years and Other Poems’, as well as his ground-breaking anthology ‘Book of American Negro Poetry’ and ´The Books of the American Negro Spirituals’. However, his best-known work remains the book of verse, ‘God’s Trombones’.

‘Behind the Scenes’ (1868) was written by American civil activist and author, Elizabeth Keckley, who is best known as the confidante of the First Lady, Mary Todd Lincoln.Her astonishing life story is told in this autobiographical book which traces her eventful life, from enslavement in Virginia and thirty years as a slave to her eventual freedom and time working in the White House.This enthralling, poignant book is an extraordinary piece of American history that will delight anyone interested in slave narratives, such as Frederick Douglass' ´Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass´.Elizabeth Keckley (1818 –1907) was a successful seamstress, civil activist, and author, best known as a confidante of First Lady, Mary Todd Lincoln, and for her autobiography ‘Behind the Scenes: Or, Thirty Years a Slave and Four Years in the White House’ (1868).Born into slavery, she became a seamstress and eventually bought her freedom in 1855. She moved to Washington where she started a successful business as a seamstress and was popular amongst politicians’ wives.Meeting the President’s wife, Mary Todd Lincoln, Keckley became her confidante and ended up working in the White House.

Written just a year before his death, ‘Why is the Negro Lynched?’ is one of Douglass’ most moving and passionate speeches.Still sadly-pertinent today, his skill as a wordsmith is captured in passages that discuss everything from law and respect for human life to religion and the necessity for belonging.An expert orator, Douglass presents his arguments as though they were part of a court case, deftly switching between the roles of prosecution and defence, before passing sentence against the white establishment of the time.An important book for anyone and everyone.Frederick Douglass (1818-1995) was an American abolitionist and author. Born into slavery in Maryland, he was of African, European, and Native American descent. He was separated from his mother at a young age and lived with his grandmother until he was moved to another plantation.Frederick was taught his alphabet by the wife of one of his owners, a knowledge he passed on to other slaves. In 1838, he successfully escaped slavery by jumping on a north-bound train. After less than 24 hours, he was in New York and free.The same year, he married the woman that had inspired his run for freedom and started working actively as a social reformer, orator, statesman, and women’s rights defender.He remains most known today for his 1845 autobiography "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave."

‘Two Articles by Frederick Douglass’ houses two of the abolitionist’s most important essays on race and equality.The first essay, ‘My Escape from Slavery’, details his daring bid for freedom from a plantation as well as his experiences on reaching New York.The second, ‘Reconstruction’, is an open letter to the white readers of the ‘Atlantic Monthly’ magazine, highlighting the importance of extending the vote to African Americans and the need for equal rights.The two essays are startling pieces of writing, with both documenting the struggles faced by African Americans at the time. ´Two Articles´ will delight any person already familiar with Douglass' body of work.Frederick Douglass (1818-1995) was an American abolitionist and author. Born into slavery in Maryland, he was of African, European, and Native American descent. He was separated from his mother at a young age and lived with his grandmother until he was moved to another plantation.Frederick was taught his alphabet by the wife of one of his owners, a knowledge he passed on to other slaves. In 1838, he successfully escaped slavery by jumping on a north-bound train. After less than 24 hours, he was in New York and free.The same year, he married the woman that had inspired his run for freedom and started working actively as a social reformer, orator, statesman, and women’s rights defender.He remains most known today for his 1845 autobiography "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave."

For those interested in the history of slavery and the American Civil War, 'Up from Slavery' is the autobiography from American eudcator Booker T. Washington in which he describes his experiences of living as an enslaved child during the Civil War.Washington overcame many obstacles to get an education and throughout his autobiography, he gratefully reflects on the help of his teachers and philanthropists who helped educate Black and Native Americans.The autobiography was a best seller; much to do with its honest and historically significant depiction of the struggles that Washington faced.If you are eager to know more about the history of slavery, Sojourner Truth's 'Narrative of Sojourner Truth' will provide great insight into being a slave in the North.Booker T. Washington was born into slavery in Virginia in 1856. He is regarded as one of the foremost African American leaders of the late 19th century, and founded the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in 1881.He became a teacher after the Civil War, and was also a political adviser and writer.Washington's mother, Jane, worked as a cook for a plantation owner and his father was an unknown white man, most likely from a nearby plantation.From a young age, Washington worked carrying sacks of grain to the plantations mill. Despite the sacks weighing around 100-pounds and being too heavy for a young boy, he was often beaten for not working to a high enough standard.After the Civil War, Washington and his mother moved to West Virginia, where she married a freedman. The family was very poor, and nine-year-old Washington went to work in the nearby salt furnaces instead of going to school. He then worked as a houseboy for the wife of a local coal mine owner. She recognised his desire for education and allowed him to go to school for an hour a day during the winter months.He died in November, 1915, at the age of 59, of congestive heart failure.

For those interested in the abolition of slavery and the Slavery Act in America, 'Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl' is an autobiography by Harriet Ann Jacobs, a mother and fugitive slave.The book covers Jacobs' life as a slave and how she fought for freedom for herself and her children. With deep historical prominence, the autobiography covers the struggles she faced, including the sexual abuse that female slaves had to endure.Published in 1861 and filled with accounts of heroism and courage, 'Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl' will leave you shocked and brimming with admiration for Harriet Jacobs.This is perfect for fans of Fredrick Douglass' memoir 'Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave'.Harriet Ann Jacobs was an African-American writer, whose autobiography, 'Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl', is now considered an important American classic.Born into slavery in North Carolina, Jacobs was sexually harassed by her enslaver and when he threatened to sell her children if she didn't allow him to abuse her, she hid in a tiny gap under the roof of her grandmother's house for seven years. She finally managed to escape to the free North where she was reunited with her two children and her brother.During the Civil War, she went to the Union-occupied parts of the South with her daughter and founded two schools for fugitive and freed slaves. They kept boarding houses together until 1887-88, when Harriet became too ill to continue. She died in 1897 in Washington D.C.

Poetry can inspire, evoke, provoke and transport the reader. But this collection of 39 poems did even more - it broke barriers. This collection was written by Phillis Wheatley, the first African-American woman whose poetry writings were published.Seized from West Africa as a young girl, Phillis lived in Boston as a slave to the prominent Wheatley family where she learned to read and write, as well as undertaking lessons in the Bible, astronomy, geography, history and British, Greek and Latin Literature. By the age of 18, Phillis had amassed a decent quantity of poems and together with the Wheatley family, sought out a publisher. However, based on racial prejudices, Phillis was received with disdain in the United States. Attention was turned to London instead, where Phillis posted one of her poems, 'On the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield', to Selina Hastings, Countess of Huntingdon and a well-off supporter of the abolitionist cause, who connected her with a bookseller although Wheatley still had to go through interrogation to prove that she was the author of her own work.This collection of poems shows the breadth and depth of her reading, and includes poems reflecting her Christian faith, her interest in Greek mythology and her admiration for well-known figures including Alexander Pope.'Poems on Various Subjects' is perfect for people who have read 'The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano'.Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) was an American poet who was the first African-American writer to be published. She was born in West Africa, sold into slavery aged seven or eight, then bought by the Wheatley family of Boston. They encouraged her to pursue her poetry as her talent became clear. But Wheatley had to go to London to find patrons to help her get her work published. When 'Poems on Various Subjects' was published in 1773, she gained fame in England and the African colonies - even receiving praise from George Washington and Voltaire. After being emancipated, she married the grocer John Peters. But they slipped into poverty and Phillis died in obscurity at the age of 31.

I kender hende selvfølgelig allerede. Michelle Obama er en ganske særlig kvinde. Hun blev elsket for sin rolle som USAs førstedame, hvor hun viste, hvordan en præsidents hustru kan være med til at forandre verden. Det var fra denne position, den inspirerende kvinde etablerede sig som intelligent og passioneret fortaler for kvinder og piger – ikke blot i USA, men også i hele verden. Hun stod ved sin mands side gennem USAs krisetider, og hun formåede at bevare begge ben på jorden og hjertet på rette sted. Som det hele menneske, hun er, har hun vist verden sine dansetrin, sit sangtalent og sin humor, som er blevet udfoldet i samspil med journalister fra diverse tv-shows. I MIN HISTORIE inviterer hun læseren helt ind og byder på erindringer og betragtninger fra livet før Det Hvide Hus. Hun fortæller om sin barndom, om livet som karrierekvinde og om at finde balancen mellem moderskab og arbejde. Hendes fortælling leveres med den ærlighed og humor, der kendetegner den forbilledlige kvinde.