In this accessible treatment for general readers from high school age on up, Hillstrom (no affiliation given) provides a detailed narrative overview, describing the era of slavery, emancipation, the emergence of New York as an African American cultural center, the rise of Black capitalism, and the rise of civil rights activism in the 1920s. He shows how African Americans contributed to both Black and white culture through literature, art, and music, then provides biographies of the key players, including DuBois, Robeson, Ellington and Langston Hughes, each with resources. The final section contains primary sources such as Hughes's manifesto of artistic independence, recollections of musical events, essays and poems. Annotation ©2008 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)