This book of essays bears witness to the generally overlooked 'must-read' publications reflecting the bravery, spirit and tenacity of the african american community. This is not a book of exerpts, but is instead a scholarly commentary on each work and includes analyses of the social and political contributions of some of the authors life works.

The author explains the effort it took to bring his book idea through the many publishers and editors involved from its inception to its final form. Mason almost apologizes for the compromises he made to bring it to print, and ultimately was satisfied bringing a more limited reading list to anyone wishing to learn more about where the african american community comes from in order to prepare for their future progress.

This book is certainly more than a presentation of Cliff Notes, but also includes discussions of the works of some of the more obscure pre-Civil War african american writers. If nothing else, this book advances our appreciation of the highlighted writers and the african american culture; a literary combination rarely seen and expertly defined in this book. ( )