Stony The Road

More about the book

This work offers a profound exploration of the African-American struggle for equality following the Civil War, highlighting the violent counterrevolution that re-subjugated them. While the abolition of slavery and the civil rights movement are well-known, the century in between remains enigmatic. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. seeks to unravel this mystery, examining the period from Reconstruction to the nadir of the African-American experience under Jim Crow, and through World War I and the Harlem Renaissance. By closely analyzing the visual culture of this tragic era, Gates reveals the multifaceted nature of Jim Crow, which solidified a stark racial divide. Drawing on his extensive experience as a scholar, filmmaker, and public intellectual, Gates traces the roots of structural racism today and illustrates how African Americans, post-slavery, fought against it by envisioning a "New Negro." This vision aimed to compel the nation to acknowledge their humanity and significant contributions as America advanced into the modern age. Accompanying the book is a PBS documentary series that further explores these themes, supported by comprehensive promotional efforts from PBS.