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A Moment in the Sun: Black Manhattan Before the Civil War
A Moment in the Sun
dispels the pernicious narrative that in New York City, slavery was followed by a hundred years of poverty and destitution.
Dispelling the persistent narrative that abject poverty followed the end of slavery in New York City, acclaimed historian Shane White finally sets the historical record straight. A Moment in the Sun, a revisionist and immersive retelling of antebellum Manhattan, depicts a long-forgotten, nineteenth-century era when ordinary Black men and women, now free, “stood a brief moment in the sun” (W. E. B. Du Bois), ushering in a roughly half-century period when New York City bulged and thrummed with Black creativity and achievement nearly a hundred years before the storied Harlem Renaissance.
Culling a narrative from thousands of fragmentary sources gathered over three decades of research, White conjures the distant world of these Black New Yorkers, from the streets where dandies flaunted their signature style to a rollicking dance cellar on a Friday night in the Five Points neighborhood. “In a city still rife with racism and violence,” White writes, “ordinary African New Yorkers—among them oystermen, petty entrepreneurs, fortune-tellers, and ‘confidence men’—brought into being a free urban Black culture.”
A triumph of historical reclamation, A Moment in the Sun paints a pointillist portrait of this time in New York history, one that presents an entirely different story that was waiting to emerge from the archive. And in bringing to vivid life these Black New Yorkers and their eponymous moment in the sun, this shimmering history preserves their memory and, in the words of Caleb Gayle, “takes us into the experiment in freedom whose possibilities could have and should have lasted generations.”
"Shane White has devoted more than half of his life studying this great city, and the result has been truly great history. A Moment in the Sun is a landmark contribution, the product of a rare historian attentive to the texture of everyday life, the adventures of everyday people, and the mingling of cultures that made Manhattan the greatest urban island in the world. This is one of those books that should never go out of print."—Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Thelonious Monk
Dispelling the persistent narrative that abject poverty followed the end of slavery in New York City, acclaimed historian Shane White finally sets the historical record straight. A Moment in the Sun, a revisionist and immersive retelling of antebellum Manhattan, depicts a long-forgotten, nineteenth-century era when ordinary Black men and women, now free, “stood a brief moment in the sun” (W. E. B. Du Bois), ushering in a roughly half-century period when New York City bulged and thrummed with Black creativity and achievement nearly a hundred years before the storied Harlem Renaissance.
Culling a narrative from thousands of fragmentary sources gathered over three decades of research, White conjures the distant world of these Black New Yorkers, from the streets where dandies flaunted their signature style to a rollicking dance cellar on a Friday night in the Five Points neighborhood. “In a city still rife with racism and violence,” White writes, “ordinary African New Yorkers—among them oystermen, petty entrepreneurs, fortune-tellers, and ‘confidence men’—brought into being a free urban Black culture.”
A triumph of historical reclamation, A Moment in the Sun paints a pointillist portrait of this time in New York history, one that presents an entirely different story that was waiting to emerge from the archive. And in bringing to vivid life these Black New Yorkers and their eponymous moment in the sun, this shimmering history preserves their memory and, in the words of Caleb Gayle, “takes us into the experiment in freedom whose possibilities could have and should have lasted generations.”
"Shane White has devoted more than half of his life studying this great city, and the result has been truly great history. A Moment in the Sun is a landmark contribution, the product of a rare historian attentive to the texture of everyday life, the adventures of everyday people, and the mingling of cultures that made Manhattan the greatest urban island in the world. This is one of those books that should never go out of print."—Robin D. G. Kelley, author of Thelonious Monk
16 pages, Audible Audio
First published August 25, 2026
About the author
Shane White
18 books37 followersSHANE WHITE is the Challis Professor of History and an Australian Professorial Fellow in the History Department at the University of Sydney specializing in African-American history. He has authored or co-authored five books, including "Playing the Numbers", and collaborated in the construction of the website Digital Harlem. Each project has won at least one important prize for excellence from institutions as varied as the American Historical Association and the American Library Association. He lives in Sydney, Australia.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
September 8, 2026
“By the 1850s, the generation that had negotiated the end of slavery in and around New York was dying out, and the cities short-lived experiment in race relations — as Black and white worked out what freedom meant — was coming to an end.”
“The spectacle of the Sunday Broadway stroll, the successes of the Black theater company, the explosion of Black music and dance, emancipation parades, and even the new, more assertive demeanor of Black pedestrians, and the existence of Freedom’s Journal contributed to the cultural convulsion that so electrified New York as the hated institution of slavery wound down. These were signs that there were alternative possibilities for relations between Black and white. Things easily might have turned out differently. The mid-century demise of the amalgamated city signaled the eclipse of those possibilities. Anxious whites, recoiling from the realities of Black freedom, preferred disenfranchisement, segregation (even if haphazardly enforced), occasional riots, and minstrelsy. It would not be until the 1920s that African New Yorkers would again experience such a vogue or extensive cultural intermingling.”
This book is written by an Australian historian who has focused his academic career on African Americans, and this book in particular deals with the African American experience in New York City in the decades before the Civil War. Many white New Yorkers owned slaves at that time, but the population also included formerly enslaved (and never enslaved) Black people. Black and white New Yorkers were not physically separated, and to a surprising extent they were not legally separated at this time. There were Black professionals, business owners and actors. In later years, there was more segregation.
In the 19th century no one was very interested in documenting the lives of African Americans, but the author managed to cull a lot of information from newspapers, the census and court records. The heavy reliance on court records resulted in more emphasis on crimes (way too much about confidence men) and prurient details than I cared about. However, this was a very interesting glimpse of life in New York City at that time, not restricted to African Americans. The book includes a few illustrations. 4.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
“The spectacle of the Sunday Broadway stroll, the successes of the Black theater company, the explosion of Black music and dance, emancipation parades, and even the new, more assertive demeanor of Black pedestrians, and the existence of Freedom’s Journal contributed to the cultural convulsion that so electrified New York as the hated institution of slavery wound down. These were signs that there were alternative possibilities for relations between Black and white. Things easily might have turned out differently. The mid-century demise of the amalgamated city signaled the eclipse of those possibilities. Anxious whites, recoiling from the realities of Black freedom, preferred disenfranchisement, segregation (even if haphazardly enforced), occasional riots, and minstrelsy. It would not be until the 1920s that African New Yorkers would again experience such a vogue or extensive cultural intermingling.”
This book is written by an Australian historian who has focused his academic career on African Americans, and this book in particular deals with the African American experience in New York City in the decades before the Civil War. Many white New Yorkers owned slaves at that time, but the population also included formerly enslaved (and never enslaved) Black people. Black and white New Yorkers were not physically separated, and to a surprising extent they were not legally separated at this time. There were Black professionals, business owners and actors. In later years, there was more segregation.
In the 19th century no one was very interested in documenting the lives of African Americans, but the author managed to cull a lot of information from newspapers, the census and court records. The heavy reliance on court records resulted in more emphasis on crimes (way too much about confidence men) and prurient details than I cared about. However, this was a very interesting glimpse of life in New York City at that time, not restricted to African Americans. The book includes a few illustrations. 4.5 stars
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.
August 29, 2026
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ Finding a Place in the Sun in Early New York
I went into A Moment in the Sun: Black Manhattan Before the Civil War by Shane White expecting a more narrative-driven history of Black life in early New York. What I found instead was something much denser and more academic, built from an impressive amount of archival research. That difference took me a little time to adjust to, but it also became one of the reasons I appreciated the book. I read the book while listening to the audiobook provided through NetGalley, and although this wasn't always the most entertaining history I've read, I finished it feeling that I had learned a tremendous amount about a part of American history I knew far less about than I realized.
White focuses on the lives of Black New Yorkers in the decades before the Civil War, particularly people trying to build lives after slavery had ended in New York and the surrounding region. What impressed me most was the depth of the research. Court records, business dealings, personal histories, and other surviving documents are brought together to create a detailed picture of daily life in the city. Through these records, White shows how newly freed people sought economic opportunity, developed communities, and tried to carve out their own place in a society that still subjected them to racism and discrimination.
Some of the smaller details were among the most memorable parts for me. I had no idea how important oysters were to the economy and culture of New York, and I enjoyed learning about the origins of confidence men and the prevalence of counterfeiting. These details helped make the city feel more tangible. White also incorporates the stories of numerous individuals he has encountered through decades of research. Instead of simply presenting statistics or broad historical trends, he frequently uses these people to show what life may actually have looked like on the ground.
The book is certainly academic, and at times I found it quite dense. A significant amount of the research comes from court records, which makes sense given the surviving sources, but it also means that many of the stories involve conflict, crime, discrimination, or hardship. I occasionally wished there had been more uplifting accounts or a wider variety of records available to balance some of that material. The racism and discrimination faced by Black New Yorkers, even after slavery had ended in the state, could be disheartening to read about. Still, White does something I appreciated greatly. He does not simply present evidence and leave it there. He synthesizes the research, offers thoughtful interpretations, and tries to reconstruct how people likely lived, worked, and understood their surroundings. That ability to move beyond raw evidence is something many academic histories struggle to accomplish.
One of the strongest themes running through the book is the complicated meaning of freedom. Legal freedom did not automatically produce equality, security, or acceptance. Black New Yorkers continued to face discrimination while trying to find work, establish communities, and create new opportunities for themselves. The book also complicates the familiar idea of the North as a simple refuge from racial oppression. New York offered opportunity, but it was also a place where racism remained deeply embedded in everyday life.
A Moment in the Sun will probably appeal most to readers interested in New York City history, Black history, or early American history, especially those who do not mind a more academic style. Readers looking for a fast-moving narrative may find the density challenging, but there is a tremendous amount to learn here. What stayed with me most was how much effort newly freed Black New Yorkers had to put into simply creating stable lives and communities in a city that was supposed to represent opportunity. White makes clear that freedom did not erase racism or discrimination, yet he also shows how people continued to build lives, find work, form communities, and carve out a place for themselves in the city.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Shane White, and rb Media for an advanced audio copy in exchanged for an honest review.
#AMomentintheSun #NetGalley
I went into A Moment in the Sun: Black Manhattan Before the Civil War by Shane White expecting a more narrative-driven history of Black life in early New York. What I found instead was something much denser and more academic, built from an impressive amount of archival research. That difference took me a little time to adjust to, but it also became one of the reasons I appreciated the book. I read the book while listening to the audiobook provided through NetGalley, and although this wasn't always the most entertaining history I've read, I finished it feeling that I had learned a tremendous amount about a part of American history I knew far less about than I realized.
White focuses on the lives of Black New Yorkers in the decades before the Civil War, particularly people trying to build lives after slavery had ended in New York and the surrounding region. What impressed me most was the depth of the research. Court records, business dealings, personal histories, and other surviving documents are brought together to create a detailed picture of daily life in the city. Through these records, White shows how newly freed people sought economic opportunity, developed communities, and tried to carve out their own place in a society that still subjected them to racism and discrimination.
Some of the smaller details were among the most memorable parts for me. I had no idea how important oysters were to the economy and culture of New York, and I enjoyed learning about the origins of confidence men and the prevalence of counterfeiting. These details helped make the city feel more tangible. White also incorporates the stories of numerous individuals he has encountered through decades of research. Instead of simply presenting statistics or broad historical trends, he frequently uses these people to show what life may actually have looked like on the ground.
The book is certainly academic, and at times I found it quite dense. A significant amount of the research comes from court records, which makes sense given the surviving sources, but it also means that many of the stories involve conflict, crime, discrimination, or hardship. I occasionally wished there had been more uplifting accounts or a wider variety of records available to balance some of that material. The racism and discrimination faced by Black New Yorkers, even after slavery had ended in the state, could be disheartening to read about. Still, White does something I appreciated greatly. He does not simply present evidence and leave it there. He synthesizes the research, offers thoughtful interpretations, and tries to reconstruct how people likely lived, worked, and understood their surroundings. That ability to move beyond raw evidence is something many academic histories struggle to accomplish.
One of the strongest themes running through the book is the complicated meaning of freedom. Legal freedom did not automatically produce equality, security, or acceptance. Black New Yorkers continued to face discrimination while trying to find work, establish communities, and create new opportunities for themselves. The book also complicates the familiar idea of the North as a simple refuge from racial oppression. New York offered opportunity, but it was also a place where racism remained deeply embedded in everyday life.
A Moment in the Sun will probably appeal most to readers interested in New York City history, Black history, or early American history, especially those who do not mind a more academic style. Readers looking for a fast-moving narrative may find the density challenging, but there is a tremendous amount to learn here. What stayed with me most was how much effort newly freed Black New Yorkers had to put into simply creating stable lives and communities in a city that was supposed to represent opportunity. White makes clear that freedom did not erase racism or discrimination, yet he also shows how people continued to build lives, find work, form communities, and carve out a place for themselves in the city.
Thank you to NetGalley, author Shane White, and rb Media for an advanced audio copy in exchanged for an honest review.
#AMomentintheSun #NetGalley
August 21, 2026
A well-researched exploration of black life in New York City before the Civil War. The author does a deep dive into the lives of ordinary citizens gleaned from primary research mostly from official documentation (sources: courts, newspapers, censuses, etc.). In sum, it depicts the shrinking influence and freedom of black Americans following the Emancipation Proclamation until the Civil War from recorded and reported stories of increasing prejudice and racism. Interestingly, it includes depictions of equal protection under the law at first - that eroded over time.
The book does a very deep dive into to specific topic areas such as the con game or sexual mores, and these tended to get a little long (ie too thorough for this casual reader). The “amalgamated” society is one in which whites and blacks worked and socialized freely without prejudice or harm. Sadly, the civil war brought a quick end to “mixing” and the Jim Crow laws were adopted (and, in some respects seem to be coming back) in the United States. Lots to reflect and think about with this well-narrated audiobook.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @RecordedBooks, @RBMedia. and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of “AMomentintheSun for review purposes. Publication date: 25 August 2026.
The book does a very deep dive into to specific topic areas such as the con game or sexual mores, and these tended to get a little long (ie too thorough for this casual reader). The “amalgamated” society is one in which whites and blacks worked and socialized freely without prejudice or harm. Sadly, the civil war brought a quick end to “mixing” and the Jim Crow laws were adopted (and, in some respects seem to be coming back) in the United States. Lots to reflect and think about with this well-narrated audiobook.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @RecordedBooks, @RBMedia. and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of “AMomentintheSun for review purposes. Publication date: 25 August 2026.
April 21, 2026
Very well written. You can tell the passion the author has for the subject. I learned a lot while reading this book.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A Moment in the Sun: Black Manhattan Before the Civil War by Shane White is a work of remarkable depth and insight that reframes our understanding of antebellum Black life in New York City.
White masterfully challenges the pervasive misconception that slavery's abolition in New York was immediately followed by a century of destitution for its Black inhabitants. Instead, he meticulously illuminates a vibrant, complex, and resilient Black Manhattan teeming with creativity, entrepreneurship, and a ceaseless fight for freedom and self-determination. The initial sense of optimism following abolition, though hard-won and fragile, shines through as a central theme.
The book excels in its portrayal of individual lives and communal efforts that shaped this era. We are introduced to figures like Cato Alexander, a freedman who navigated the city's hospitality industry to establish his own successful tavern, and the trailblazing lawyer Moses Simons, whose early legal career defied prevailing racial barriers. The detailed account of the New York Manumission Society highlights the varied strategies employed in the struggle against slavery, underscoring the complexities of legal and social reform in a city deeply entwined with the institution.
White's narrative vividly brings to life the multifaceted experiences of Black New Yorkers. We see their resilience in the face of a challenging legal system, their ingenuity in forming theatrical troupes like The African Company, pioneering the Black stage with figures such as William Henry Brown and James Hewlett, and their profound impact on the city's cultural landscape through music and dance. The exploration of dynamic "underground" spaces, from dance cellars to gambling houses, reveals a clandestine yet vital economy and social scene that allowed newly freed individuals to negotiate the meaning of their freedom on their own terms. The enduring impact of figures like William Henry Lane, considered the "father of tap dance," is a testament to the powerful cultural fusion happening in Five Points.
The text offers compelling evidence of burgeoning Black entrepreneurship. From Daniel Johnson's thriving oyster business, complete with export ventures utilizing African American potter Thomas Commeraw, to the extraordinary success of Thomas George Downing, the "New York Oyster King," White unveils a lineage of ambitious business leaders. The narrative also thoughtfully examines significant instances of Black investment, such as the Seneca Village community and the remarkable financial exploits of Jeremiah G. Hamilton, a Black millionaire who navigated the cutthroat world of Wall Street. These examples powerfully contradict the notion of widespread economic failure, instead highlighting resourcefulness and a drive for financial independence, even if often precarious.
The author skillfully navigates the political landscape, illustrating the proactive engagement of Black New Yorkers in advocating for their rights through platforms like the New York State Colored Conventions, addressing issues from policy gambling to voting rights. The later segments of the book thoughtfully explore the broader global context, including Haiti's symbolic importance for Black New Yorkers, and the insidious realities of Jim Crow practices in the North, reminding us that the struggle for equality was far from over.
A Moment in the Sun is a compelling and meticulously researched work that reconstructs a crucial, often overlooked, period of American history. White's "pointillist painting" approach, assembling seemingly disparate details into a coherent and vibrant image, invites the reader to step back and appreciate the rich tapestry of Black life in antebellum Manhattan. This book is not merely a recounting of history; it is a reinterpretation that celebrates resilience, innovation, and the enduring human spirit in the pursuit of freedom and self-worth.
White masterfully challenges the pervasive misconception that slavery's abolition in New York was immediately followed by a century of destitution for its Black inhabitants. Instead, he meticulously illuminates a vibrant, complex, and resilient Black Manhattan teeming with creativity, entrepreneurship, and a ceaseless fight for freedom and self-determination. The initial sense of optimism following abolition, though hard-won and fragile, shines through as a central theme.
The book excels in its portrayal of individual lives and communal efforts that shaped this era. We are introduced to figures like Cato Alexander, a freedman who navigated the city's hospitality industry to establish his own successful tavern, and the trailblazing lawyer Moses Simons, whose early legal career defied prevailing racial barriers. The detailed account of the New York Manumission Society highlights the varied strategies employed in the struggle against slavery, underscoring the complexities of legal and social reform in a city deeply entwined with the institution.
White's narrative vividly brings to life the multifaceted experiences of Black New Yorkers. We see their resilience in the face of a challenging legal system, their ingenuity in forming theatrical troupes like The African Company, pioneering the Black stage with figures such as William Henry Brown and James Hewlett, and their profound impact on the city's cultural landscape through music and dance. The exploration of dynamic "underground" spaces, from dance cellars to gambling houses, reveals a clandestine yet vital economy and social scene that allowed newly freed individuals to negotiate the meaning of their freedom on their own terms. The enduring impact of figures like William Henry Lane, considered the "father of tap dance," is a testament to the powerful cultural fusion happening in Five Points.
The text offers compelling evidence of burgeoning Black entrepreneurship. From Daniel Johnson's thriving oyster business, complete with export ventures utilizing African American potter Thomas Commeraw, to the extraordinary success of Thomas George Downing, the "New York Oyster King," White unveils a lineage of ambitious business leaders. The narrative also thoughtfully examines significant instances of Black investment, such as the Seneca Village community and the remarkable financial exploits of Jeremiah G. Hamilton, a Black millionaire who navigated the cutthroat world of Wall Street. These examples powerfully contradict the notion of widespread economic failure, instead highlighting resourcefulness and a drive for financial independence, even if often precarious.
The author skillfully navigates the political landscape, illustrating the proactive engagement of Black New Yorkers in advocating for their rights through platforms like the New York State Colored Conventions, addressing issues from policy gambling to voting rights. The later segments of the book thoughtfully explore the broader global context, including Haiti's symbolic importance for Black New Yorkers, and the insidious realities of Jim Crow practices in the North, reminding us that the struggle for equality was far from over.
A Moment in the Sun is a compelling and meticulously researched work that reconstructs a crucial, often overlooked, period of American history. White's "pointillist painting" approach, assembling seemingly disparate details into a coherent and vibrant image, invites the reader to step back and appreciate the rich tapestry of Black life in antebellum Manhattan. This book is not merely a recounting of history; it is a reinterpretation that celebrates resilience, innovation, and the enduring human spirit in the pursuit of freedom and self-worth.
August 28, 2026
A Moment in the Sun: Black Manhattan Before the Civil War by Shane White is a remarkable work of historical recovery that brings a largely overlooked chapter of nineteenth-century New York to vivid life. Drawing on thousands of fragmentary sources gathered over decades of research, White reconstructs a Black Manhattan that was far more vibrant, entrepreneurial, creative, and socially complex than the familiar narrative of post-emancipation poverty suggests.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its attention to the people who inhabited this world. Figures such as Thomas Downing, Cato Alexander, Mary Thompson, Black performers, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and countless ordinary New Yorkers emerge not merely as historical names, but as people actively shaping the cultural and economic life of Manhattan. Their stories demonstrate how much Black New Yorkers contributed to a city undergoing extraordinary transformation.
The book is particularly compelling in its examination of what White calls an "amalgamated" city. Black and white New Yorkers interacted in workplaces, businesses, entertainment spaces, and even parts of the city's underworld. White shows that these interactions could produce genuine forms of integration, even while racism, violence, segregation, and prejudice remained deeply embedded in society. The eventual contraction of Black freedom and opportunity makes the earlier period feel both inspiring and heartbreaking.
I also appreciated the book's focus on everyday life. Rather than presenting history only through major political events and famous figures, White explores fashion, music, theater, taverns, dance halls, entrepreneurship, fortune-telling, and social relationships. This approach makes the past feel inhabited and human, allowing readers to imagine what Black Manhattan actually looked and felt like before the Civil War.
What ultimately makes A Moment in the Sun so meaningful is that it is not simply about recovering forgotten history. It asks readers to reconsider what freedom looked like for Black New Yorkers and how much possibility existed before racial restrictions increasingly narrowed that freedom. The book reveals a society in which integration was imperfect but, as White argues, surprisingly possible—and where ordinary people were building communities and identities that deserve to be remembered.
Overall, A Moment in the Sun is an illuminating and deeply human contribution to African American and New York history. It combines extensive archival research with compelling storytelling to restore a forgotten generation to the historical record. For readers interested in Black history, nineteenth-century America, New York City, urban history, race relations, and the many stories that complicate conventional accounts of the past, this is a fascinating and important book.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its attention to the people who inhabited this world. Figures such as Thomas Downing, Cato Alexander, Mary Thompson, Black performers, entrepreneurs, entertainers, and countless ordinary New Yorkers emerge not merely as historical names, but as people actively shaping the cultural and economic life of Manhattan. Their stories demonstrate how much Black New Yorkers contributed to a city undergoing extraordinary transformation.
The book is particularly compelling in its examination of what White calls an "amalgamated" city. Black and white New Yorkers interacted in workplaces, businesses, entertainment spaces, and even parts of the city's underworld. White shows that these interactions could produce genuine forms of integration, even while racism, violence, segregation, and prejudice remained deeply embedded in society. The eventual contraction of Black freedom and opportunity makes the earlier period feel both inspiring and heartbreaking.
I also appreciated the book's focus on everyday life. Rather than presenting history only through major political events and famous figures, White explores fashion, music, theater, taverns, dance halls, entrepreneurship, fortune-telling, and social relationships. This approach makes the past feel inhabited and human, allowing readers to imagine what Black Manhattan actually looked and felt like before the Civil War.
What ultimately makes A Moment in the Sun so meaningful is that it is not simply about recovering forgotten history. It asks readers to reconsider what freedom looked like for Black New Yorkers and how much possibility existed before racial restrictions increasingly narrowed that freedom. The book reveals a society in which integration was imperfect but, as White argues, surprisingly possible—and where ordinary people were building communities and identities that deserve to be remembered.
Overall, A Moment in the Sun is an illuminating and deeply human contribution to African American and New York history. It combines extensive archival research with compelling storytelling to restore a forgotten generation to the historical record. For readers interested in Black history, nineteenth-century America, New York City, urban history, race relations, and the many stories that complicate conventional accounts of the past, this is a fascinating and important book.
September 1, 2026
5 Stars — History That Deserves to Be Told
A Moment in the Sun: Black Manhattan Before the Civil War by Shane White reminded me exactly why I enjoy reading historical nonfiction. There is always more to our history than what we were taught, and this book opened my eyes to an entire chapter of Black life in New York that I knew very little about.
I really appreciated learning about Black New Yorkers who were working, building businesses, creating communities, pursuing success, and making a place for themselves during an incredibly complicated time in American history. Their lives weren’t defined only by racism and oppression. There was also determination, entrepreneurship, culture, creativity, and community.
Some parts made me proud, some made me angry, and others simply made me wonder how so many of these stories have remained unfamiliar for so long.
This book is detailed and definitely one to take your time with, but I found the history worth the effort. I finished it feeling like I had learned something important—and wanting to learn even more.
If you enjoy Black history and discovering the stories that didn’t make it into your school textbooks, I definitely recommend this one.
#AMomentInTheSun #ShaneWhite #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryBooks #AfricanAmericanHistory #FiveStarRead #BookReview #HistoricalNonfiction #BlackStoriesMatter #BookRecommendations
A Moment in the Sun: Black Manhattan Before the Civil War by Shane White reminded me exactly why I enjoy reading historical nonfiction. There is always more to our history than what we were taught, and this book opened my eyes to an entire chapter of Black life in New York that I knew very little about.
I really appreciated learning about Black New Yorkers who were working, building businesses, creating communities, pursuing success, and making a place for themselves during an incredibly complicated time in American history. Their lives weren’t defined only by racism and oppression. There was also determination, entrepreneurship, culture, creativity, and community.
Some parts made me proud, some made me angry, and others simply made me wonder how so many of these stories have remained unfamiliar for so long.
This book is detailed and definitely one to take your time with, but I found the history worth the effort. I finished it feeling like I had learned something important—and wanting to learn even more.
If you enjoy Black history and discovering the stories that didn’t make it into your school textbooks, I definitely recommend this one.
#AMomentInTheSun #ShaneWhite #BlackHistory #BlackHistoryBooks #AfricanAmericanHistory #FiveStarRead #BookReview #HistoricalNonfiction #BlackStoriesMatter #BookRecommendations
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