Nonfiction

Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019

Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019

  • Downloads：4061
  • Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date：2021-02-28 04:11:44
  • Update Date：2025-09-06
  • Status：finish
  • Author：Ibram X. Kendi
  • ISBN：0593134044
  • Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
  • Download

Summary

An epoch-defining history of African America， the first to appear in a generation， Four Hundred Souls is a chronological account of four hundred years of Black America as told by ninety of America's leading Black writers。

Curated by Ibram X。 Kendi， author of the number one bestseller How To Be an Antiracist， and fellow historian Keisha N。 Blain， Four Hundred Souls begins with the arrival of twenty enslaved Ndongo people on the shores of the British colony in mainland America in 1619， the year before the arrival of the Mayflower。

In eighty chronological chapters， the book charts the tragic and triumphant four-hundred-year history of Black American experience in a choral work of exceptional power and beauty。

Contributors include some of the best-known scholars， writers， historians， journalists， lawyers， poets and activists of contemporary America who together bring to vivid life countless new facets to the drama of slavery and resistance， segregation and survival， migration and self-discovery， cultural oppression and world-changing artistic， literary and musical creativity。 In these pages are dozens of extraordinary lives and personalities， rescued from the archives and restored to their rightful place in America's narrative， as well as the ghosts of millions more。

Four Hundred Souls is an essential work of story-telling and reclamation that redefines America and changes our notion of how history is written。

Download

Reviews

Aaryn ，

Four Hundred Souls is unlike anything I have ever read。 It’s a community history of four hundred years of African American life in the U。S。 from 1619 to 2019， and it is told by 90 different writers。 Each writer takes a five-year period and focuses on one event or story from that time; each 40-year part is bookended with a poem。 This work， edited by Ibram X。 Kendi and Keisha Blain， is absolutely brilliant。 There will be some stories you’re familiar with （like the origins of BLM） and there will be Four Hundred Souls is unlike anything I have ever read。 It’s a community history of four hundred years of African American life in the U。S。 from 1619 to 2019， and it is told by 90 different writers。 Each writer takes a five-year period and focuses on one event or story from that time; each 40-year part is bookended with a poem。 This work， edited by Ibram X。 Kendi and Keisha Blain， is absolutely brilliant。 There will be some stories you’re familiar with （like the origins of BLM） and there will be some that you’ve never heard of before， and I guarantee that you’ll learn a lot。 The stories are all unique， but what I like the most is how the authors tie the historical events to what is happening today。 You can’t understand black lives today without understanding the past four hundred years。I listened to this on audio， and it’s excellent， but I would love to have a paper copy as well。 There is so much here that I’d love to go back and reread and highlight。 I highly recommend Four Hundred Souls to everyone。 。。。more

Monica Bond-Lamberty ，

Am actually listening to this now， wish they would say who is reading each passage especially when it is not the author。 Would also be nice to have author's names repeated at the end of the passage。 I ended up having that information pulled up。 Which is a pity This leads me want to say that this should be only read， but the voices are so powerful。This is not a page turner， and you need to pick when you are mentally able to listen to and process the passages。 There are pieces， especially the poem Am actually listening to this now， wish they would say who is reading each passage especially when it is not the author。 Would also be nice to have author's names repeated at the end of the passage。 I ended up having that information pulled up。 Which is a pity This leads me want to say that this should be only read， but the voices are so powerful。This is not a page turner， and you need to pick when you are mentally able to listen to and process the passages。 There are pieces， especially the poems， that you should read by themselves and leave time afterwords to think about it。 There are pieces that you almost need to have read to you because they are so hard to read， especially with some of the current events。 For those that have done a lot of reading on African American history， this does cover some previously covered ground， it also goes beyond most of the other texts I've read， delving into the intersectionality of some issues as well。Am disappointed the used the same trite myth that Pilgrims were seeking religious freedom。 That is not true， they could have practiced freely， they could also have gone to somewhere closer to home like the Netherlands。 However， the reason why they went was as a money making venture， not religious。 Not sure that is worth taking away a star， but it is a point to consider。 Great book！ 。。。more

Candice ，

Beautiful， brilliant， better than I even expected （and the bar was set high）。 A "chorus of extraordinary voices" indeed。Each of the authors managed to teach the history， but in a touching， personal way。 Totally recommend listening to it on audiobook。 But， buy the hardcopy too :） Beautiful， brilliant， better than I even expected （and the bar was set high）。 A "chorus of extraordinary voices" indeed。Each of the authors managed to teach the history， but in a touching， personal way。 Totally recommend listening to it on audiobook。 But， buy the hardcopy too :） 。。。more

Jena Best ，

Concept & importance: 5/5 ！However， given the length， these 2 factors each knocked off a star: number of authors and a lack of focus。 Let me explain。 I was really drawn to the short chapter structure， each covering only 5 years of history。 But I found it very jarring to have a new author （writing style） every 5 pages or so。 This then made the "lack of focus" issue even bigger， as each author had such a short number of pages in which to focus！ It was really jarring （and disappointing） to be taken Concept & importance: 5/5 ！However， given the length， these 2 factors each knocked off a star: number of authors and a lack of focus。 Let me explain。 I was really drawn to the short chapter structure， each covering only 5 years of history。 But I found it very jarring to have a new author （writing style） every 5 pages or so。 This then made the "lack of focus" issue even bigger， as each author had such a short number of pages in which to focus！ It was really jarring （and disappointing） to be taken out of time so frequently。 （An example: 1804-1809 is a paltry 4 pages。。。。 That does not actually say anything about those years， but describes the author's own life time and vaguely discusses cotton。） 。。。more

Lorna ，

Wow！。 I am reading all of these books and came into it feeling knowledgeable and aware as a white person。 I am amazed that each book adds a layer to my appreciation of the issues and journey of my black friends。 At this point I start a book not expecting much because I have read so many。 It happens anyway with the eloquent articulation。 It genuinely saddens me that the most ignorant among us will not accept this enlightenment。 I know we still have a long way to go to achieve true justice and equ Wow！。 I am reading all of these books and came into it feeling knowledgeable and aware as a white person。 I am amazed that each book adds a layer to my appreciation of the issues and journey of my black friends。 At this point I start a book not expecting much because I have read so many。 It happens anyway with the eloquent articulation。 It genuinely saddens me that the most ignorant among us will not accept this enlightenment。 I know we still have a long way to go to achieve true justice and equality and I honestly feel these soldiers have a lot to teach us if we will only pay attention！！ 。。。more

Meghan Werley ，

This book was amazing。 As always， I learned so much。 I highly recommend the audible route as each story is narrated by a different Black person。 It was beautifully done。 Adding this book to a list that I wish would be read in schools （and even used as a basis of re-writing history classes）。

Martha New ，

A must read for every person， especially of white ancestry。 Learning the rest of American history is so important to obliterate racism。 Becoming an ally needs to start with our youth as well This book’s essays should be part of our history curriculum。 This is a powerful literary work。

Kristen Combs ，

I might buy this one; really great and I loved how it was organized。 Definitely recommend。

K。 E。 Creighton ，

While reading Four Hundred Souls， I slowly began to see faces and hear voices， of the maroons and the rebels next to the revolutionaries and the families and the intellectuals and the connected strangers and the philosophers and the preachers and the politicians and the artists and the poets next to the activists and the mothers and fathers and children—so， so many vibrant souls。 I saw them next to natural landmarks and buildings and in homes and in cities and schools and in fields and on roads While reading Four Hundred Souls， I slowly began to see faces and hear voices， of the maroons and the rebels next to the revolutionaries and the families and the intellectuals and the connected strangers and the philosophers and the preachers and the politicians and the artists and the poets next to the activists and the mothers and fathers and children—so， so many vibrant souls。 I saw them next to natural landmarks and buildings and in homes and in cities and schools and in fields and on roads both above ground and underground， and traveling across oceans， rivers， and swamps。 Across centuries and miles。 And while they came into focus， I saw how they had all been an integral part of American history all along， even though I couldn’t see them fully before。 But as I continued to read， my vision of them became a lot less blurry。 And their voices became a bit louder and more distinct。 。。。 [Read the rest of my experience reading this book here: https://kecreighton。com/musings-on-fo。。。] 。。。more

Michelle Marie ，

FABULOUS READ！ These stories are told in such an understandable way。 I HIGHLY recommend the audio book so you can hear all 87 narrators。 Having said that I am also going to buy the book so I can keep digesting this and refer back to it。

Nancy ，

3。5I found the format of Four Hundred Souls: A Community of African America （1619-2019） intriguing and unique。 The book consists of a number of essays， each of which discusses an aspect of the indignities that African Americans have endured over their 400 years of enslavement and persistent prejudice。 Each section is read by a different voice and creates the "community history" of the book's title。 Together these make clear the obvious systemic racism that is denied by too many of us。 Systemic r 3。5I found the format of Four Hundred Souls: A Community of African America （1619-2019） intriguing and unique。 The book consists of a number of essays， each of which discusses an aspect of the indignities that African Americans have endured over their 400 years of enslavement and persistent prejudice。 Each section is read by a different voice and creates the "community history" of the book's title。 Together these make clear the obvious systemic racism that is denied by too many of us。 Systemic racism was， and unfortunately remains， an entrenched aspect of American culture。 This is an important book but I didn't find it an easy listen。 。。。more

Katie Proctor ，

This is fantastic。 So many topics are covered by so many amazing writers。 This book lends itself really well to group discussion and also further learning to dive deep into the different things that are covered。 HIGHLY RECOMMEND。

Booksandcoffeepleasemx ，

If you are still looking for a great book for Black History Month， you need to read this one！Wow this collection of essays was powerful and gripping。 There’s so much to learn， and to feel while experiencing this book。 Four Hundred Souls is an historical masterpiece， deeply moving， transformative and remarkable。Thank you LibroFm and @prhaudio for this ALC。http://www。instagram。com/booksandcoff。。。 If you are still looking for a great book for Black History Month， you need to read this one！Wow this collection of essays was powerful and gripping。 There’s so much to learn， and to feel while experiencing this book。 Four Hundred Souls is an historical masterpiece， deeply moving， transformative and remarkable。Thank you LibroFm and @prhaudio for this ALC。http://www。instagram。com/booksandcoff。。。 。。。more

Erin Goettsch ，

This blew my mind with how much I didn’t know， about things I thought I knew。 It’s LONG and its scope is truly impressive， but since each chapter is just one essay about one very specific issue affecting its very specific 5-year window， it’s also really accessible。 I’ve been reading this over the course of the month and I’m sure I will read it again。 This is a really amazing collection。

Tina Raspanti ，

Listened to this as an audiobook。 Stunning storytelling。 Hearing those stories in different voices， many chapter authors was beautiful。 Learning from souls of the past and present， while wishing for future souls。

Terry Jess ，

This book should be the model for how survey histories are written。 Is it comprehensive？ No。 Does it spark curiosity and send me scrambling to other books and the internet to learn more？ Absolutely！ And that is the kind of writing I want my students exposed to。 I will be using many excerpts in my decolonized US history course and Race in the US！ The short chapters， authentic and sometimes personal writing， change up of styles and focus， makes this book seem like an easy read。 I consider myself t This book should be the model for how survey histories are written。 Is it comprehensive？ No。 Does it spark curiosity and send me scrambling to other books and the internet to learn more？ Absolutely！ And that is the kind of writing I want my students exposed to。 I will be using many excerpts in my decolonized US history course and Race in the US！ The short chapters， authentic and sometimes personal writing， change up of styles and focus， makes this book seem like an easy read。 I consider myself to be rather well read on Black American History， but there was some new learning and definitely some new analysis that connected some dots previous left isolated。 The beautiful theme throughout is the quest for full freedom， and sadly it’s still needed today。 Robert Jones Jr。’s chapter on Denmark Vesey might be one of my favorites， but there isn’t a weak chapter in it。 Thank you Professors Blain and Kendi for putting this together！ 。。。more

Joe ，

Beginning with the disembarkation of 20 slaves onto Virginia's shores in 1619 and ending with the reprisal of the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2019， Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America， 1619-2019 （edited by Ibram X。 Kendi & Keisha Blain） traces 400 hundred years of Black history through the eyes of 90 modern Black authors and poets。 Each contributor was assigned a five-year period of time within the 400 hundred years and they could do with it whatever they wanted - histo Beginning with the disembarkation of 20 slaves onto Virginia's shores in 1619 and ending with the reprisal of the Black Lives Matter Movement in 2019， Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America， 1619-2019 （edited by Ibram X。 Kendi & Keisha Blain） traces 400 hundred years of Black history through the eyes of 90 modern Black authors and poets。 Each contributor was assigned a five-year period of time within the 400 hundred years and they could do with it whatever they wanted - historical analysis， nonfiction essay， memoir， short story， poem， etc。 It truly is a magnificent artistic achievement in that it allows the reader the opportunity to experience Black history through a multitude of voices， perspectives， and genres。Each author's contribution is no more than 4-5 pages in length， which makes Four Hundred Souls a rather easy read despite the heaviness of the subject matter。 Throughout these pages， I was exposed to so many unsung heroes （like Elizabeth Keye， a Black woman who sued for her freedom - and won！ - in 1656） and covered-up aspects of American history （like the multiple armed-slave rebellions that preceded the Civil War）， but was also painfully reminded of the too-numerous-to-count incidents of "white rage，" or the violent anti-Black backlashes that followed in the wake of every measure of progress made by Black Americans （and in the ways the Christian religion was often used to justify so much violence and oppression）。 Four Hundred Souls should be essential reading for anyone seeking a panoramic survey of Black American history written by some of our finest artists， historians， poets， theologians， and memorists。 。。。more

Kristin ，

Powerful essays covering not-so-known stories of our nation's history。 Highly recommend to all。 Powerful essays covering not-so-known stories of our nation's history。 Highly recommend to all。 。。。more

Graham Barrett ，

Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America is a one-part history lesson， one-part novel， and one-part poetry book。 The collection has 90 Black writers chronicling Black America's 400-year history （1619-2019） in the United States， with every writer covering a 5-year period of time。 Some of these writers I knew of already and enjoyed their contributions but many I did not， so I appreciated how Four Hundred Souls introduced them to me and I definitely intend on looking up the rest o Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America is a one-part history lesson， one-part novel， and one-part poetry book。 The collection has 90 Black writers chronicling Black America's 400-year history （1619-2019） in the United States， with every writer covering a 5-year period of time。 Some of these writers I knew of already and enjoyed their contributions but many I did not， so I appreciated how Four Hundred Souls introduced them to me and I definitely intend on looking up the rest of their work。Like any collection of works from different writers， there is a disjointed feeling to some of the book’s chapters， particularly when a reader goes from one chapter that’s more of a history lesson to one that’s creatively exploring the POV of Black Americas in that 5-year period and then back to another history lesson。 Luckily these disjointed chapters are far between。 Content-wise the book’s contributors made good picks between well-known events and individuals and events the history books don’t dwell on。 Many chapters are thus a good learning experience。The chapters are short and thus are a quick read and one can end up finishing Four Hundred Souls fairly quickly。 But one can also finish Four Hundred Souls quickly because its content is incredibly engaging。 This book is a rich tapestry of Black America’s continuing struggle in the United States and can hopefully inspire a new generation to appreciate the struggle and be inspired to help make the next 400 years better。 。。。more

Connie ，

A brilliant collection of essays with editor commentary depicting the history and treatment of African Americans from the initial arrival from the White Lion arriving a year before the well documented arrival of the Mayflower in 1620 to the same Eastern shore。 Courageous and daring men and women of color are depicted larger than life given the enormity of the barriers they faced at the time。 White men held in esteem by historical accounts for their patriotism and more blatant prejudice is expose A brilliant collection of essays with editor commentary depicting the history and treatment of African Americans from the initial arrival from the White Lion arriving a year before the well documented arrival of the Mayflower in 1620 to the same Eastern shore。 Courageous and daring men and women of color are depicted larger than life given the enormity of the barriers they faced at the time。 White men held in esteem by historical accounts for their patriotism and more blatant prejudice is exposed。 In his very own writings Benjamin Franklin， for example， expresses concerns over the "darkening" of certain parts of the Americas explaining in great length why he did not want more Africans brought to the America that he was helping to build。 "Why increase the sons of Africa， by planting them in America， where we have so far an opportunity， by excluding all blacks and tawneys， of increasing the lovely white and red？ But perhaps I am partial to the complexion of my Country， for such kind of partiality is natural to Mankind。"Unknown to me was that being Baptism was a way to freedom for some enslaved for a brief time the thinking being that one Christian could not enslave another i。e Spiritual Conversion。（ Georgia was the only colony to issue a ban on slavery at its inception in 1733。） Likewise the American Revolutionary war brought freedom to some as well if they agreed to fight for the British cause！ The Seige of Savannah was said to be the second deadliest battle of the American Revolutionary War。 Success of the British attributed to the use of Africans as guides to the waterways and terrain familiar to them but not to the British。 At the end of the war 4000 of African descent left Savannah for Florida， the Caribbean and Canada。 （ Spanish- held Florida at the time offered freedom to those who would arrive。Revealing is how the establishment of Higher Education in the United States were funded from profits of plantation growth in the Northeast and Mid Atlantic states。 Interesting yet is how British used what is now Rutgers buildings during the War to house their troops ie for barracks。 Slave economy underwrote academic revolution tripling the number of colleges in two decades。 Georgetown was founded by Catholic clergy in 1789 funded by slavery。 Further revealing is how today's prison system came to be an outgrowth of the plantation and replacement of。 Michigan made history in 1838 for created the first state prison having only abolished slavery one year prior。 By 1843 prisoners were working for private contractors to produce equipment， tooles，。 saddles， etc。 at NO PAY。 BY 1882 Michigan's creation had expanded to become the largest walled prison in the world！ Prison population has grown 450 since 1973 a higher rate than most countries thanks to racialized sentencing and policies that created "lifers" for offenses such as narcotics possession。 。。。more

Liz ，

This book is gorgeous。 It's a collection of essays documenting Black people's experiences through every five year period from 1619-2019。 Some of the essays tell incredible stories， some draw haunting parallels to modern times， and some illuminate chapters of history that I had never heard about。 All of the writing is so good， and the audiobook narrators （many of the 90 authors narrate their own chapters） are so， so good。 It took a while for me to get through this one， but that speaks more to the This book is gorgeous。 It's a collection of essays documenting Black people's experiences through every five year period from 1619-2019。 Some of the essays tell incredible stories， some draw haunting parallels to modern times， and some illuminate chapters of history that I had never heard about。 All of the writing is so good， and the audiobook narrators （many of the 90 authors narrate their own chapters） are so， so good。 It took a while for me to get through this one， but that speaks more to the power of the book than anything。 It's a super good history of African America。 。。。more

Madam Pink Justice ，

Quote: "Scientist in the 19th century said that African Americans were inferior， unintelligent， and animalistic but strong and meant for servitude。"This is the history book that many of us never got。 I appreciate the research， time and effort that was done writing this book。 This book starts in 1619 and ends in 2019/2020。 Each era is written with a different story so it's not a boring long read。 I already know I will be rereading this book again and I will never let any one borrow this copy。 I t Quote: "Scientist in the 19th century said that African Americans were inferior， unintelligent， and animalistic but strong and meant for servitude。"This is the history book that many of us never got。 I appreciate the research， time and effort that was done writing this book。 This book starts in 1619 and ends in 2019/2020。 Each era is written with a different story so it's not a boring long read。 I already know I will be rereading this book again and I will never let any one borrow this copy。 I think everyone should read this book。 I was so enlightened on so many things！！ 。。。more

Book Mitch ，

This was SO MUCH。 Beautifully curated and soulfully heavy。 I listened to this on audio since I heard it was narrated by a fantastic cast。 And wow。 Now I need to own a hard copy so that I can reread this。 It's not a one timer。 Pluck this out of your tbr。 This was SO MUCH。 Beautifully curated and soulfully heavy。 I listened to this on audio since I heard it was narrated by a fantastic cast。 And wow。 Now I need to own a hard copy so that I can reread this。 It's not a one timer。 Pluck this out of your tbr。 。。。more

Shauna Sorensen ，

This book is a feat。 It is just absolutely incredible and should be required reading。This is such an amazing history of the United States that manages to tell more well-known and more overlooked stories while giving all the same importance that they deserve。 It provides incredible counter-points to the white washed history that everyone learns and has deepened my knowledge of， and interest in， American history a considerable degree。Not to mention the fact that this insane amount of incredible， a This book is a feat。 It is just absolutely incredible and should be required reading。This is such an amazing history of the United States that manages to tell more well-known and more overlooked stories while giving all the same importance that they deserve。 It provides incredible counter-points to the white washed history that everyone learns and has deepened my knowledge of， and interest in， American history a considerable degree。Not to mention the fact that this insane amount of incredible， accomplished writers were each given just a few pages to tell five year increments of American history。 On their own， each chapter is fascinating and enlightening， but all together （to say nothing of the way that threads are weaved amongst them even through different authors， styles， and subjects） they create an incredibly powerful history of resistance， resilience， and community in the United States。 。。。more

Matt Busche ，

This book did a great job talking about major events and also minor events/characters that have been forgotten in history。 I enjoyed hearing from 80 different voices， but that did make the book feel disjointed at times。

Karen Reed ，

This book is huge and should be。 I don't read much non-fiction but because this is broken down into smaller time periods I was able to work though it a bit at a time。 I love how different authors wrote the different pieces。 This could have felt chunky， I suppose， but for me it helped voice each part。 This book is huge and should be。 I don't read much non-fiction but because this is broken down into smaller time periods I was able to work though it a bit at a time。 I love how different authors wrote the different pieces。 This could have felt chunky， I suppose， but for me it helped voice each part。 。。。more

A Reader in Time ，

I’m leaving this book unrated since I don’t like to rate nonfiction。 But this is one of the most informative nonfiction books I have ever read。 I learned a lot about the last 400 years in terms of Black history。 I listened to the audiobook of this book which was so well put together。 For most of the chapters， a different narrator would narrate that section of the book， making it so dynamic and interesting to listen to。 At the same time， I almost wish I had physically read this so I could absorb I’m leaving this book unrated since I don’t like to rate nonfiction。 But this is one of the most informative nonfiction books I have ever read。 I learned a lot about the last 400 years in terms of Black history。 I listened to the audiobook of this book which was so well put together。 For most of the chapters， a different narrator would narrate that section of the book， making it so dynamic and interesting to listen to。 At the same time， I almost wish I had physically read this so I could absorb more of what I was listening to。 But I will certainly be buying a physical copy soon so I can reread it at some point and re-absorb everything from this book。 Overall， I would highly recommend this book to those wanting a nonfiction book that has both a broad and narrow scope in terms of the story。 Some chapters focus on a single prominent Black person at the time or a specific law or something that had a wider impact。 I find this variation to keep me interested and wanting to know more。 Please please read this， it is so well done and I’m eager to reread it sometime。 。。。more

Evie ，

A glowing 5 stars to this。There is so much to take in and appreciate here。 I feel like I’ve learned a lot， I’ve listened to stories and recounts of crucial historical moments that I have never learned about before。 This is an essential and very insightful read。 I have listened to the audio - full cast of amazing voices - and it was phenomenal， but I will definitely also be getting a print copy of the book to go through again and highlight passages。

Caroline Tew ，

I think this is an excellent idea and a great way to get a comprehensive history of anything！ I feel like I learned a lot about many facets of African American life and history。 I do think the beginning felt a bit slow， partially because there’s simply less specific documentation of those times and therefore some of the 5 year pieces felt a bit repetitive or similar （also part of that is due to the fact that each one is written by a different person so they maybe we’re aware that the section bef I think this is an excellent idea and a great way to get a comprehensive history of anything！ I feel like I learned a lot about many facets of African American life and history。 I do think the beginning felt a bit slow， partially because there’s simply less specific documentation of those times and therefore some of the 5 year pieces felt a bit repetitive or similar （also part of that is due to the fact that each one is written by a different person so they maybe we’re aware that the section before them just went into great detail on a particular topic）。 As we got to the late 1800s though， it started to pick up。 My favorite pieces were the ones that focused on a specific person or event and expanded from there， looking both backwards and forwards from that event or lifetime。 Really glad I read this！ 。。。more

Katie Pesznecker ，

"Four Hundred Souls" is an ambitious literary work that tells the 400-year history of Black Americans by breaking that history into 5-year increments beginning in 1619 when The White Lion landed on the East Coast with the first African slaves。 Each of the 80 chapters -- they are short， less than 2，000 words each -- features a different writer -- historians， journalists， poets， educators， theologians。 In a manner of their own choosing， they each tell the story of that five-year period。 Perhaps th "Four Hundred Souls" is an ambitious literary work that tells the 400-year history of Black Americans by breaking that history into 5-year increments beginning in 1619 when The White Lion landed on the East Coast with the first African slaves。 Each of the 80 chapters -- they are short， less than 2，000 words each -- features a different writer -- historians， journalists， poets， educators， theologians。 In a manner of their own choosing， they each tell the story of that five-year period。 Perhaps they do it in a direct way， or by zeroing in on a specific event， or person， or piece of legislation。 Some are in first-person， others are scholarly。 If the fluctuating tone is jarring at times， this is partly the point: that this book makes for "a cohesive and connected narrative with strikingly different -- yet unified -- voices。 A choir。" Reading this book， you will learn histories previously unknown， you will feel anger and empathy and hope， you will witness "a history full of souls。 A soul for each year of history。 Four Hundred Souls。" Some stand-out quotes: "Nations reel and stagger on their way; they make hideous mistakes; they commit frightful wrongs; they do great and beautiful things。" "Our country has wrapped a national holiday around the Pilgrims' story， ensuring the Mayflower's mythical place in the American narrative。" "。。。 virtually no American learns about the White Lion。 。。。 One ship and its people have been immortalized， the other completely erased。" "But in 1630， the whipping of Hugh Davis wrote one important concept of race in America into law: the exclusivity of whiteness。" "In 1662 they decreed that a child born to an African woman slave， no matter who the father was， would follow that woman into slavery。" "But what makes a good ally？ As it is used these days， it means someone who is not being directly harmed by the injustice in question yet who stands with those being harmed， even if it's against he self-interest of their identity privilege。" "That's because it's safety， not wisdom， we're after when we look backward。 we picture ugly things at a comfortable distance。" "The slave codes of 1705 are among American history's most striking evidence that our nation's greatest sins were achieved with clear forethought and determined maintenance。" "Northeast Portland had become what most of Portland is， what most of Oregon is， a place that nurtures whiteness。""What happens to the person when they become a symbol？ Can they be recovered？ Can they exist beyond what they embody？ In this wrestling over symbols， the individual is sacrificed。 They become the unknown。" 。。。more

Reference

google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019

hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft

The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0