History in Black: African-Americans in Search of an Ancient Past

by Yaacov Shavit

Overview

The development of Afrocentric historical writing is explored in this study which traces this recording of history from the Hellenistic-Roman period to the 19th century. Afrocentric writers are depicted as searching for the unique primary source of "culture" from one period to the next. Such passing on of cultural traits from the "ancient model" from the classical period to the origin of culture in Egypt and Africa is shown as being a product purely of creative history.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780714650623
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/03/2001
Edition description:	ANN
Pages:	444
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Choice

"The author" biography is impressive, and his research takes him over a vast area, from Pharaonic Egypt to the Americas before European contact as he follows the trial of modern Afrocentrist doctrine...the book is solid and its conclusion fair.

Editorial Reviews

The effort to trace the origins of human culture to Africa, rather than to Greece as dominant European thought has long contended, says Shavit (history of the Jewish people, Tel Aviv U.), is part of obsession with initial sources<-->a reaction to white western supremacy<-->that glosses over the vast web of transmission and borrowing that comprises the history of culture. Like European origin myths, he agrees that it has value for the self-awareness of African Americans and their status in society. Distributed in the US by ISBS. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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