This book starts with slavery and poverty. It touches on the civil rights movement.

The beginning of the book is my favorite; starting with the distant history; of the civilizations of Africa. The most important piece in this work, however; is the census of 1850!

The The seminal work of African American History

Great read!

A rare expression of the progress of Black Life in America.

This is a profound history of the darkest days of American Raceism. After reading 1619, I realized that there is so much of American History that has passed me by during the 78 years of my life. I hold Doctorate of Religion with a background in the American Baptist Church, the Church of Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. I know much of Dr King's story, but so little of the Black struggle for freedom and equality. Before the Mayflower: is a must read.

Must read...

This book was everything I wanted it to be and more. It thought me the opposite of what I previously thought of my people. I definitely enjoy having my mind changed and learning new parts of things I thought I knew a lot about. Seeing slavery and black history from a lotttt of different angles was something I definitely needed. I learned a lot about pre colonial Africa and how complex the kingdoms and languages were. A good amount of the content was hard to swallow as a black man reading it. I can say that it was necessary to learn tho. Because if I don’t take initiative to learn more about our history, then it will be left untouched. Gotta learn about the history of a problem to get a grasp on where to start. The quote at the end was hella good. “We ain’t where we wanna be. We ain’t where we ought to be. We ain’t where we gonna be. But thank god we ain’t where we were”. LEVELS TO THIS SHIT

I had never heard of this book until I started reading the preface for Nikole Hannah Jones the 1619 Project book! I immediately ordered this book and I’m so glad I did! Some things I knew but others I didn’t. This book should be required reading! As difficult as it is to read about all of the atrocities that our ancestors endured, imagine how hard it was for them to live it! Despite it all, the ancestors were resilient and I am truly inspired to continue reading their stories and sharing my experiences with others. Especially in 2025 and beyond when demons are rolling back civil rights that were fought so hard for! Stay encouraged because we are not going back!

Mentioned by Nikole Hannah-Jones on Aug. 22, 2019.

Finally came to the end of this amazing historical text. I read the edition from 2007 and at times had to take a break. This was due to the anger and sadness I felt as I read and learned. This book is eye opening and I recommend everyone read it, especially white people. Going forward I now have a better understanding of how terrible it was and still can be for my friends of African American descent. While hopeful in some areas this book tells me that I need to do more to help right the wrongs forced upon African Americans from one century to the next. I think going forward I want to read all American history through the lens of African Americans, and immigrants. because for each white author's telling of history, an African American (or immigrant's, woman's) is not being told. I want to thank Mr. Lerone Bennett Jr. for his hard work and dedication in telling the story of the African American in America, a true masterpiece in my opinion.

Very detailed, thorough book on the history of African Americans the United States. I enjoyed reading a version of American history that was not sanitized by the majority. Though a good, educational read, the version I have is 689 pages long. It will take some time to get through it, but it's worth e.

The most thorough study of the African American experience I've ever read. It takes you from their life in western Africa before the slave ships arrived all the way through the Jim Crow era to their struggles and place in our society today. For any history lover who wants a full, true account of the journey African Americans have taken in our society.