Synopses & Reviews
As the world prepared for the Exposition Universalle de 1900 in Paris, W. E. B. Du Bois was approached to help represent African American life. He came with a cache of stunning photographs to illustrate the progress of Negroes in America -- thereby offering a photographic counterpoint to the prolific stereotyping of blacks that left viewers awestruck.
With insights from Pulitzer Prize winner David Levering Lewis and Mac-Arthur Fellow photo historian Deborah Willis, A Small Nation of People presents more than one hundred and fifty of these important photographs together for the first time since their initial unveiling. Here is an incredible treasure trove of illustrations of African Americans in front of their new businesses, universities, and homes -- sometimes modest, sometimes elegant. Here, too, are beautiful Victorian-era portraits of blacks whose varied hues show how diverse black Americans truly were. Viewed together, the collection reveals in glorious detail what Du Bois saw -- a small nation of people prepared to make their mark on America.
Review
“Impressive....Readers...will love this rare glimpse of photographs. Booklist
Review
“An eye opening treasure....The family album of black America.” Juan Williams, author of Eyes on the Prize and This Far by Faith
Review
“Imbued with grace and dignity...A rare look at the progress being made by....forebearers in an important, longstanding tradition.” Thelma Golden, Deputy Director for Exhibitions and Programs, The Studio Museum in Harlem and author of Black Male
Review
“A must read book for everyone and anyone concerned with the historical evolution of American history, culture and identity.” Leslie King-Hammond, Ph. D., Dean of Graduate Studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art
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“A landmark book.” Black Issues Book Review
Review
“More than just a pretty cover....[A Small Nation of People] will provide...enjoyment for months and years to come.” Richmond Times-Dispatch
Synopsis
Selected by W.E.B. Du Bois and published together for the first time, a collection of 150 rare and beautiful photographs of African Americans out of slavery and beyond, with essays by Pulitzer Prize winner Levering Lewis and the MacArthur fellow, African American photo historian Deborah Willis.
Synopsis
Imbued with grace and dignity...A rare look at the progress being made by....forebearers in an important, longstanding tradition.
Synopsis
Includes bibliographical references (p. 198-200).
About the Author
A MacArthur Fellow, David Levering Lewis is the author of several books, including
W.E.B. Du Bois: The Fight for Equality and the American Century and
Du Bois: Biography of a Race. He was awarded the Pulizter for both books, which is unprecedented. A Professor of History at NYU, he has also taught at Rutgers University.
A photo historian, curator, and photographer, Deborah Willis is chair and professor of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, Department of Photography and Imaging. A Guggenheim, Fletcher, and MacArthur fellow, she lives in New York City.
Table of Contents
Small nation of people : W.E.B. Du Bois and Black Americans at the turn of the twentieth century /David Levering Lewis --Sociologist's eye : W.E.B. Du Bois and the Paris Exposition /Deborah Willis --Selections from the photographs at the Exposition des Náegres d'Amâerique, "Exhibit of American Negroes," Paris Exposition, 1900