United States History - African American History, African American History, United States History, United States History - Colonial Era, African American History, United States History - 18th Century - General & Miscellaneous

Building a New Land

Name: Building a New Land
Author: James Ransome
ISBN: 9780688102661

by James Ransome

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Overview

The contributions of African Americans to the development of colonial America were numerous, varied, and—until now—largely unknown. This third book in the From African Beginnings series explores the lives of African Americans during this period. Organized by geographical region and featuring portraits of such individuals as poet Phillis Wheatley and former-slave-turned-property-owner Anthony Johnson and vibrant acrylic paintings by Coretta Scott King Award winner James Ransome, here is the fascinating story of the first African Americans and their legacy.

About the Author:
James Haskins, the author of more than one hundred books for both adults and children, was honored with the Washington Post/Children's Book Guild Award for his body of work in nonfiction for young people. A professor of English at the University of Florida, he divides his time between Gainesville, FL, and New York City.

Kathleen Benson is the author or coauthor of many books for children. The head of education at the Museum of the City of New York, she lives in New York City.

Coretta Scott King Award winner James Ransome has illustrated The Wagon by Tony Johnson, a Smithsonian Notable Book, The Old Dog, by Charlotte Zolotow, and How Animals Saved the People by J. J. Reneaux. He lives in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Discusses the changing roles, rights, and contributions of Afro-Americans in the United States during the colonial period from 1607 to 1763. Also includes a chronology of significant events.

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Editorials

KLIATT

This brief history of African Americans from 1517 to the eve of the American Revolution is extremely well written. It includes a list of milestones in the history of African Americans in colonial America from the arrival of the first slaves in Georgetown, South Carolina in 1526 to the publication of Phillis Wheatley's poetry in 1770 and a short but sophisticated bibliography. The third volume in the prize-winning From African Beginning series, Building a New Land offers under-chronicled scenes from African American history such as James Oglethorpe's influence on the early anti-slavery laws in Georgia and the Stono Rebellion as well as commentary on the cultural traditions maintained by the slaves. KLIATT Codes: J—Recommended for junior high school students. 2001, HarperTrophy, Amistad, 44p. illus. bibliog. index., Ages 12 to 15.
—Patricia Moore

Children's Literature

In a large, picture-book format, the authors present a sophisticated account of the contributions and tribulations of African-Americans during the colonial period. The eloquent prose is accompanied by stunning, vividly colored illustrations. The first blacks to reach the New World arrived with Spanish, Portuguese and French explorers in the late 15th century. They were navigators, laborers, freemen, indentured servants, slaves and even slaveholders. After 1700, English colonists began to outnumber other Europeans and the plantation system of agriculture emerged in the South. Black Africans were soon relegated to servitude and slavery. A few English immigrants like William Penn founded colonies where slavery was prohibited and a small antislavery movement existed, but most white colonists accepted slavery as part of the natural order. Despite the unfair and harsh conditions to which they were subjected, most blacks, both freemen and slaves, adapted to life in the colonies. By the time the Revolutionary War began, they thought of themselves as Americans rather than Africans. This book is the third in a series by Haskins and Benson called "From African Beginnings." Future volumes will describe the role of African Americans in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars and beyond. 2001, HarperCollins, . Ages 7 to 10. Reviewer: Joyce Schwartz