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African American Firsts: Famous Little-Known and Unsung Triumphs of Blacks in America
Completely revised and updated to include current events such as Barack Obama's presidency, and drawn from old documents, records, letters, family histories and government files, a fascinating guide offers a look at African Americans who achieved major firsts in such areas as politics, science and medicine, journalism, entertainment, the military and history. Original.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
424 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 9, 2017
I liked this book because it talks about the African american who didnt get to get an award for there work
September 6, 2024
African American Firsts
Excellent book for all to read, filled historical information that will make all young people to know that the sky is the limit!
Excellent book for all to read, filled historical information that will make all young people to know that the sky is the limit!
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April 21, 2015Potter, J. (2014). African American Firsts: Famous, Little-Known and Unsung Triumphs of Blacks In America. Kensington Publishing Corp., Dafina Books: New York.
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Citation by: Brandy New
Type of Reference: Biographical Reference
Call Number: E185
Content/Scope: Intended for grades 5 and up this book will make a good first stop for quick information on African Americans who were significant. At 464 pages this updated 4th edition is comprehensive. The book covers pioneers in many fields including: business, education, government, fine arts, and sports.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: This book has been criticized for only listing a few resources. The articles do not seem overly biased but are positive about each of the people, which seem appropriate given the book’s topic and purpose. Larger works with more information for adults are the main resources for this text.
Arrangement/Presentation: The book is divided into 15 chapters with each focusing on pioneers in certain fields. The subheadings are phrased like questions and answered with biographical information of significance. Entries are short and pictures are mostly black and white. The index lists names, places and subjects that will help students find information more easily.
Relation to other works: This book is comprehensive on the topic it covers. If a child wanted in depth information it would be a good starting point to find an answer or person of interest. To fully learn all about a person they would need to find another biography and possibly one about a single person rather than this very large group.
Accessibility/Diversity: The subject matter of the book will appeal to a diverse population.
Cost: $13.99
Professional Review: LaPrise, A. W. (2014). A Guide to the Bible, Career Info, the Ultimate Atlas. School Library Journal, June 10, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/2014/06/reviews/re...
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Citation by: Brandy New
Type of Reference: Biographical Reference
Call Number: E185
Content/Scope: Intended for grades 5 and up this book will make a good first stop for quick information on African Americans who were significant. At 464 pages this updated 4th edition is comprehensive. The book covers pioneers in many fields including: business, education, government, fine arts, and sports.
Accuracy/Authority/Bias: This book has been criticized for only listing a few resources. The articles do not seem overly biased but are positive about each of the people, which seem appropriate given the book’s topic and purpose. Larger works with more information for adults are the main resources for this text.
Arrangement/Presentation: The book is divided into 15 chapters with each focusing on pioneers in certain fields. The subheadings are phrased like questions and answered with biographical information of significance. Entries are short and pictures are mostly black and white. The index lists names, places and subjects that will help students find information more easily.
Relation to other works: This book is comprehensive on the topic it covers. If a child wanted in depth information it would be a good starting point to find an answer or person of interest. To fully learn all about a person they would need to find another biography and possibly one about a single person rather than this very large group.
Accessibility/Diversity: The subject matter of the book will appeal to a diverse population.
Cost: $13.99
Professional Review: LaPrise, A. W. (2014). A Guide to the Bible, Career Info, the Ultimate Atlas. School Library Journal, June 10, 2014. Retrieved from http://www.slj.com/2014/06/reviews/re...
September 8, 2011
Full of myths and factual errors.
Readers of this book will learn that African Americans invented the following devices: the first rail telegraph, first clock made in colonial American, first long lasting carbon filament for light bulbs, the third rail used in subway trains, the electric trolley, performed the first open heart surgery or first pericardial heart surgery, first traffic signal, first gas mask, first electric turn signals in cars, and first golf tee. The only problem is that all these claims made in this book are completely false.
These claims are widespread on the internet and have been repeatedly disproven. For example the claim that Garrett Morgan invented the traffic light has been widespread, but the patent office issued 60 traffic signal patents before Morgan. The modern red, yellow, green traffic lights we have today were already on the streets two years before Morgan applied for his patent. Moreover his signal looks nothing like the modern traffic signals. Instead it resembles traffic signals that were used in London before Morgan was even born.
One afternoon of Googling “black invention myths” revealed over a dozen factual errors just in the science and medicine section.
This book even claims that Senator Carol Moseley-Braun was “the first African American to serve in that body in its history” even though the same book had previously listed two African Americans in the Senate during Reconstruction.
Readers of this book will learn that African Americans invented the following devices: the first rail telegraph, first clock made in colonial American, first long lasting carbon filament for light bulbs, the third rail used in subway trains, the electric trolley, performed the first open heart surgery or first pericardial heart surgery, first traffic signal, first gas mask, first electric turn signals in cars, and first golf tee. The only problem is that all these claims made in this book are completely false.
These claims are widespread on the internet and have been repeatedly disproven. For example the claim that Garrett Morgan invented the traffic light has been widespread, but the patent office issued 60 traffic signal patents before Morgan. The modern red, yellow, green traffic lights we have today were already on the streets two years before Morgan applied for his patent. Moreover his signal looks nothing like the modern traffic signals. Instead it resembles traffic signals that were used in London before Morgan was even born.
One afternoon of Googling “black invention myths” revealed over a dozen factual errors just in the science and medicine section.
This book even claims that Senator Carol Moseley-Braun was “the first African American to serve in that body in its history” even though the same book had previously listed two African Americans in the Senate during Reconstruction.
August 17, 2019
This is an interesting book that I used for research purposes, so there were pages that I merely skimmed since they were after the timeline I was researching.
Instead of being set up in a chronological fashion, the firsts mentioned here are divided by subject matter: sports, science, military, etc. Each person gets a short vignette of their life and not all include the dates of birth or death.
The bibliography is good and can send the reader down rabbit holes of research if one desires. I believe there is an updated version but since I was looking for 18-19th-century persons and accomplishments, I don't feel shortchanged. It is a book that I would someday like to own, but the copy from the library was sufficient for my needs for now.
Instead of being set up in a chronological fashion, the firsts mentioned here are divided by subject matter: sports, science, military, etc. Each person gets a short vignette of their life and not all include the dates of birth or death.
The bibliography is good and can send the reader down rabbit holes of research if one desires. I believe there is an updated version but since I was looking for 18-19th-century persons and accomplishments, I don't feel shortchanged. It is a book that I would someday like to own, but the copy from the library was sufficient for my needs for now.
February 25, 2018
I read this book for the simple joy of reading. I made the mistake of reading the reviews of other readers' comments after reading this book. I am not a fact checker, and maybe that isn't okay. I'm just a reader who appreciates the time it took to put this together and reading about all the firsts in visual arts, music, politics, the military, and so much more.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews