In Search of the Racial Frontier: African Americans in the American West, 1528-1990

by Quintard Taylor

"An enthralling work that will be essential reading for years to come." ―David Nicholson, Washington Post A landmark history of African Americans in the West, In Search of the Racial Frontier rescues the collective American consciousness from thinking solely of European pioneers when considering the exploration, settling, and conquest of the territory west of the Mississippi. From its surprising discussions of groups of African American wholly absorbed into Native American culture to illustrating how the largely forgotten role of blacks in the West helped contribute to everything from the Brown vs. Board of Education desegregation ruling to the rise of the Black Panther Party, Quintard Taylor fills a major void in American history and reminds us that the African American experience is unlimited by region or social status. 32 b/w illustrations

Genres: History, Nonfiction, American History, African American, Westerns

448 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1998

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned a lot from this excellent book. It covers an important part of African American history usually left out of mainstream US culture and education. For example, the fate of Africans brought Mexico (whose territory once included California, Utah, Nevada, most of Arizona and parts of New Mexico, Colorado, and Wyoming). Read along with "An American Genocide: the United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 184601873" by Benjamin Madley to understand why the West Coast is the way it is (including all the white racists out there).

[SDest]

I found this on footnote 13 in the introduction on page 9 of Lawrence de Graaf and Quintard Taylor's book of seeking Eldorado African Americans in California. This would know it was for discussion the California anti-slavery campaign suggest tailors in search of the racial Frontier chapter two as well as Blacks in Gold Rush California by Lapp, chapter 6.

[Alaina Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best compilations of work on the Black West I've seen. The historians in this edited collection take us from Kansas to Oklahoma to California and to places in-between, providing case studies that draw out the unique circumstances and freedoms western residence provided for people of African descent, while driving home the fact that racism was present wherever they went and white settlers followed.

[Theophilus (Theo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Characters, dates, and locations. Appetizer for more and a guide for future travel.

[C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Search of the Racial Frontier was an engrossing look into American history. The facts, information, and records presented provided an exciting insight into the struggle for freedom, fairness, justice, and equality.

I am grateful that the research is now available for review, discussion, and analysis. For years, so much was hidden, and many questions were unanswered. Professor Taylor has put African-American history within reach of everyone.

Many points were fascinating and applicable to today's discussions and daily life. For instance, I grew up in Washington and never knew that Centrail was owned and named by a black man. The detailed information helps identify new areas for personal research. I enjoyed hearing how we helped clear the land, black cowboys, black soldiers, and integrated with the Native Americans.

Many state's histories and populations are covered, such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Kansas, OregonWashington, and more. I have watched Professor Taylor’s TV shows prior to my eye injury and this book doesn't disappoint.buy it and enjoy the journey through a fuller view of American history.

[Theshiney · Rating 3 out of 5]

a great wide-angle view of the african-american westward diaspora. i got this book from the library for the history up to the 20th century but as the years march on mr. taylors vast thesis becomes more tangible and more successful. my eyes were opened to a lot of new ideas. for instance: i didnt know that there was an incredibly huge influx of blacks into the urban west to work during WWII. that boom combined with the de facto segregation (due mostly to covenant restrictions- as opposed to state or federal law) of neighborhoods at the time led to the creation of much of the shape of the present day communities we see around us (here in the west, at least)... this book really accomplished making history less abstract to me. there's something about walking these streets now, seeing history and the present all intertwined. its a reality check too. the book makes concrete, without explicitly saying so, that the civil rights movement is alive and well- and whoever denies racism permeates our everyday lives has no concept of history.

[Lashonda Slaughter Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book.