Four Hundred Souls

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A chorus of extraordinary voices tells the epic story of the four-hundred-year journey of African Americans from 1619 to the present, edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain. This vital addition to the curriculum on race in America serves as a gateway to the solo works of the contributors. The narrative begins in 1619, with the arrival of “some 20-and-odd Negroes” in Virginia, marking the start of the African presence in what would become the United States. It extends to the present, chronicling a journey defined by oppression, visionary struggles, and remarkable achievements. The editors have assembled ninety brilliant writers, each tackling a five-year period within this four-hundred-year span. Through historical essays, short stories, personal vignettes, and polemics, the contributors explore their periods from various perspectives, highlighting both iconic figures and the untold stories of ordinary people. Themes of resistance, struggle, hope, and reinvention permeate the collection, which deconstructs the notion of a monolithic Black experience. Instead, it reveals the diverse range of experiences and ideas within the African American community. This history not only illuminates the past but also offers new ways of thinking about the future, articulated by some of the most vital voices of our time.