African Americans in Minnesota

The People of Minnesota

by David V. Taylor, David V. Taylor

African Americans have had a profound influence on the history and culture of Minnesota from its earliest days to the present. Author David Vassar Taylor chronicles this rich story, using first-person accounts, newspaper articles, and a careful analysis of census records. During the territorial and early statehood periods, Blacks developed communities in St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Duluth, as well as rural areas, and established churches, businesses, and social organizations. Taylor recounts the triumphs and struggles of African Americans over the last two hundred years in a clear and concise narrative. He also introduces influential and notable people including George Bonga, the first African American born in the region during the fur trade era; Harriet and Dred Scott, whose two-year residence at Fort Snelling in the 1830s later led to a famous, though unsuccessful, legal challenge to the institution of slavery; John Quincy Adams, publisher of the state’s first Black newspaper; Fredrick L. McGhee, the state’s first Black lawyer; social workers Gertrude Brown and I. Myrtle Cardin; labor activist Nellie Stone Johnson; inventor Frederick McKinley Jones; community leaders, politicians, and civil servants including James Griffin, Sharon Sayles Belton, Alan Page, Jean Harris, and Dr. Richard Green; and nationally influential artists including August Wilson, Lou Bellamy, Prince, Jimmy Jam, and Terry Lewis.

Genres: History

102 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2002

Reviews

[Daniel Kleven · Rating 5 out of 5]

The "People in Minnesota" series (which this book is part of) takes the entries from the 600+ page They Chose Minnesota: A Survey Of The States Ethnic Groups, updates them, and adds personal stories and photographs. This entry, by the eminent scholar of African Americans in Minnesota, David Vassar Taylor, is excellent. The body of the book tells the fascinating story, and as a historian, Taylor includes excellent footnotes to primary and secondary sources, and a short suggested reading list to go further. This is a great book in a great series.

[Folasade · Rating 3 out of 5]

As dry as you’d expect it to be, was hard to stay awake at times, but I got the information I was looking for.

[Sheena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was average in my opinion. I thought it would have more personal stories, but it was mostly alot of facts, pictures and newspaper articles. I really liked learning some of the history of African Americans in the northern part of the Unites States, because I've already read so much about the south. Overall, it was interesting and informative, and at 100 pages, not too long. I was able to get it from my local library, so I might check out some of the other books in the collection.

http://www.hoteatsandcoolreads.com/20...

[Kayla Montgomery · Rating 3 out of 5]

Living in Minnesota, this was a good history book on blacks in my home state.