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Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019
Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019 | Ibram X Kendi
A chorus of extraordinary voices comes together to tell one of history's great epics: the four-hundred-year journey of African Americans from 1619 to the present--edited by Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist, and Keisha N. Blain, author of Set the World on Fire. The story begins in 1619--a year before the Mayflower--when the White Lion disgorges "some 20-and-odd Negroes" onto the shores of Virginia, inaugurating the African presence in what would become the United States. It takes us to the present, when African Americans, descendants of those on the White Lion and a thousand other routes to this country, continue a journey defined by inhuman oppression, visionary struggles, stunning achievements, and millions of ordinary lives passing through extraordinary history. Four Hundred Souls is a unique one-volume "community" history of African Americans. The editors, Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, have assembled ninety brilliant writers, each of whom takes on a five-year period of that four-hundred-year span. The writers explore their periods through a variety of techniques: historical essays, short stories, personal vignettes, and fiery polemics. They approach history from various perspectives: through the eyes of towering historical icons or the untold stories of ordinary people; through places, laws, and objects. While themes of resistance and struggle, of hope and reinvention, course through the book, this collection of diverse pieces from ninety different minds, reflecting ninety different perspectives, fundamentally deconstructs the idea that Africans in America are a monolith--instead it unlocks the startling range of experiences and ideas that have always existed within the community of Blackness. This is a history that illuminates our past and gives us new ways of thinking about our future, written by the most vital and essential voices of our present.
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DLQBOOKNERD
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Everyone should read this. It should be part of history lessons all over (although we know it won't due to white fragility.) I'm handing this one down to my 2 sons who are 16 and 19.
Excellent stories and poems.

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AnneCecilie
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Andrew65 Great choice. 3y
66 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Pickpick

This is an incredibly diverse group of essays, introspections, histories, biographies, and poems. Covering 400 years and including work from 80 writers, it taught me so much. Many of the writers are academic so a) they are experts and b) they present information in a readable manner. The audio is excellent but I need to revisit some essays in print because they‘re deep.

Longer review https://www.TheBibliophage.com #thebibliophage2021 #400souls

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rjsthumbelina
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Pickpick

I can't even detail all of the amazing history I learned from this book that I didn't know before. A great read, an important read. (And the audiobook is also pretty good. Almost all the sections are read by their authors.) This is definitely one I will have to read many times over to get the full effect of. #400souls
2nd book finished for #anywayyoureadathon

#scarathlon (5 points + 1 for posting) + 3 hours x 10 points (#anywayyou) = 36 points

rjsthumbelina @megnews thanks for hosting this #readalong and I'm looking forward to starting #othersuns! 3y
rjsthumbelina #scarathlon total points so far for #teamslaughter = 1,954 I believe 😊 3y
megnews You‘re welcome! I didn‘t realize most of the authors read their sections. That truly makes it a choir of voices. I don‘t normally reread but I may have to give it a listen because that sounds very interesting. 3y
rjsthumbelina @megnews I loved being able to listen to each author. Truly adds to the experience 3y
36 likes4 comments
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AnneCecilie
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Pickpick

400 yrs of American history where each writers focuses on a five yr period. This is history as it isn‘t thought at schools.

We read about how African Americans came to the US first, the fight for freedom from the very beginning and rebellions.

This hits hard and I‘m glad I read mostly an essay a day.

I‘m so glad you suggested this as a buddy read at @megnews
#400Souls

megnews Glad you joined us! 3y
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MallenNC
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Pickpick

I‘m so glad I read this book slowly as a buddy read so I could take it in. I can imagine going back to it and reading parts again, almost like an encyclopedia. Because I know there is more I can learn on subsequent readings. It‘s so interesting to see the people and parts of history that were chosen to represent each timeframe. So much of what this book covers echoes in issues the US is still struggling with today. #400Souls

MallenNC Thanks @megnews for hosting the reading group! 3y
Nutmegnc Ibram Kendi is now a MacArthur Fellow aka Genius! He is so necessary and I can‘t wait to see what he publishes next. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2021/sep/28/how-to-be-an-antiracist-author-ibr... 3y
MallenNC @Nutmegnc Yes! That was such exciting news. I think the MacArthur award is so amazing. If I were ever rich I‘d like to use my money that way. 3y
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Nutmegnc @MallenNC YES we need more of that. Where are my rich people? 3y
MallenNC @Nutmegnc If I‘m ever rich I will let you know, but it‘s not looking promising! 🤣 3y
Nutmegnc @MallenNC alas, same. 😢 3y
26 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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AnneCecilie
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White men really know how to protect themselves and get what they want.

#400Souls

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AnneCecilie
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“Men talk of the Negro problem. There is no Negro problem,” Douglass declared in 1894, as the shadow of Jim Crow fell across the nation. “The problem is whether the American people have honesty enough, loyalty enough, honor enough, patriotism enough to live up to their Constitution.” More than a century later, that problem is still with us.

#400Souls

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AnneCecilie
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The writer of this chapter, Wesley Lowery, is visiting the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, with family.

“As my eyes interrogated each name of the slain, my ears drew me to a conversation just a few feet away, where another group stood, marveling, beneath a stone coffin. They appeared to be a family. They were all white. I can‘t recall precisely what I overheard. But I can‘t forget the realization, in that moment, that this family had ⬇️

AnneCecilie no counties for which they‘d been instructed to search. This family was here to learn what my own had always know . While some nation vow never to forget, our American battle has always been over what we allow ourselves to remember. 3y
megnews This looks beautiful and haunting. Would love to visit some day to pay my respects. I haven‘t read the chapter yet but looking forward to it. 3y
49 likes3 comments
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AnneCecilie
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I have no words.

#400Souls

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Butterfinger
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@megnews has started a buddy read and I just ended the introduction. The words that Kendi used to describe this work - community of souls, four hundred chords, living through death like spirits- honor and revere the birth and 400 years of African America.

I encourage you to join this discussion with us. #400Souls

megnews I loved the intro. “The individual of African descent is not seen. The Black race is seen in the individual. … Them into we, defending the Black American community to defend all the individuals in the community. Them became we to allow I to become me.” 3y
18 likes1 comment
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AnneCecilie
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#WeeklyForcast

New month, several new books to start for different buddy reads
📚 Persuasion #PemberLittens
📚Emily of New Moon #KindredSpiritsBuddRead
📚 Hopefully the tagged will arrive at the library #400souls

I‘ve also started Love after Love and Everybody.

I didn‘t to any audio last week and hope to get back to that.

Cinfhen Hope you‘re enjoying your staycation 😁 3y
AnneCecilie @Cinfhen I love reading and watching the Olympics on TV and I‘ve started watching an Australian series Love Child. 3y
Cinfhen Sounds wonderful ❣️ 3y
kspenmoll @AnneCecilie We are enjoying the Olympics at my house too! 3y
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Just an FYI for anyone interested @megnews has organized a great buddy read for #400Souls starting this week.

Please let her know if you are interested in joining along.

33 likes5 comments
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megnews
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Here‘s the proposed schedule for the #400souls buddy read. Let me know if it seems too long.

Anyone else is welcome to join as well. Just let me know if you want to be tagged.

Chrissyreadit I May not join but if you could tag me that would be great. 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa Normally I‘d say “too long”, but since it‘s not from the library but instead snagged on that great Kindle sale, I don‘t have to rush to return it! So yes, this might be slower, but it might be the best way to give it the time and attention it deserves. You know, take the time to let each story sink in and think about it. 3y
Deblovestoread I got this a few days ago on audio and would love to read along with everyone. 3y
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SamAnne Oh I want to join in. 3y
megnews Great @Riveted_Reader_Melissa we were thinking about the same. 3y
megnews @Kdgordon88 I‘ll add you. Also I got your books last week and was so excited to get them in the library I forgot to take a pic and thank you. Thanks! I know the kids will love them! 3y
megnews @SamAnne great! I‘ll add you to the tags. 3y
fredthemoose I‘d like to join! 3y
megnews @fredthemoose great to have you. I‘ll add you to the tags! 3y
MallenNC I have this book on my TBR and would like to join! This group read will encourage me to move the book ahead in my reading plans. 3y
rjsthumbelina I'd like to join! 3y
megnews @MallenNC sounds great! Glad to have you. 3y
megnews @rjsthumbelina sounds great. Glad to have you join in! 3y
MallenNC @megnews Thanks! I just saw it in a post by @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Just in time! 3y
DivineDiana Please include me. I actually bought the Kindle Book after you posted the sale! So, this will encourage me to read it! 🙂 3y
megnews @DivineDiana I‘ll include you in the tags. Great to have you! 3y
DivineDiana Thank you! ❤️📚❤️ 3y
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Addison_Reads
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Pickpick

#LittenListen @aperfectmjk

Important read!

I learned more from this book than any history class I've ever taken. Such profound stories and a history that needs to be read by all.

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rmaclean4
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Pickpick

History of black americans told by various voices. Amazing anthology. Must read. 5 🌟

Addison_Reads I just started this audiobook today and I'm loving it. 3y
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Anita
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“Not Without Some Instances of Uncommon Cruelty” — Justin Phillip Reid

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Beccacraft
Pickpick

This book is segmented into 5 year increments from 1619-2019, telling the story and journey of African Americans over 400 years, written by more than 80 different Black authors. It‘s wonderful, insightful, heartfelt, and important. A must read for everyone.

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Anita
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SW-T
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Pickpick

Excellent! Appreciate the collaboration of everyone involved with the project. Lots of information but the short sections made it accessible. So glad they put this together. One I can see picking up again.

Hooked_on_books I just finished this the other day on audio. So good! 4y
37 likes1 comment
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SW-T
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Been excited about this ever since I heard about it. Already on part two and glad I finally started this one.

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Floresj
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Pickpick

90 writers. 400 years. 4-5 page essays explaining 5 year spans of American history. Essays that either told the history of an event (that is often looked) or explained how the event has tentacles to our society today. Each essay is impeccably edited, intriguing, and informative. One of the best books I‘ve read in the last few months....it‘s perfection and creatively told.

17 likes4 stack adds
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Gaylagal2
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I am so happy with everything @ncsufoxes and you've made my weekend!!
And this is the first picture, the second one is just as awesome 🤓 Thanks you so much and I can't wait to dive into these amazing books ❤️❤️❤️

#blackhistoryswap #BHMS #blitsyswap
@Chelleo

ncsufoxes So happy you like it. I ended up buying the same one. Diverse Spines (on IG), her son had this print commissioned for her by Jane Mount. Diverse Spines & JM then decided to make it into a mug print (a portion of the proceeds go to an organization that I can‘t recall at this time). 4y
GreenGrl87 That is an awesome mug! 4y
Chelleo I love the mug and the art series! 4y
35 likes3 comments
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TheBookStacker
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My big read for #BlackHistoryMonth

vlwelser ❤❤❤❤ I'm reading that too. So good! 4y
TheBookStacker @vlwelser I just got it today a bit intimidated by the size but excited to start when I finish the new Joan Didion 4y
vlwelser I was intimidated by the size too but once you start reading you'll change your mind. It has this amazing flow. But you also don't have to read it all at once. 4y
LatrelWhite Can‘t wait for mine to come tomorrow!😁 4y
50 likes3 stack adds4 comments
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BookishMarginalia
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