When Shriley Chisholm was asked why she would dare run for president, her response was, why not her? Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm rose from being the child of immigrants to the United States to running for the highest office in the land. Her achievement in doing this as a Black woman was not in spite of her background but rather because of it. She became both the first African American woman elected to the US Congress and the first female African American of a major political party to make a serious run for president of the United States. She persevered by being steadfast in her political convictions and unwillingness to compromise on the issues she believed in. Chisholm directly challenged the political establishment and was successful because she galvanized women, minorities, young people, and the poor not only in her home district in Brooklyn, New York, but across the country. She was that catalyst for change who gave a political voice to so many segments of society who were, up until that time, ignored: women, minorities, the young, members of the gay community, domestic and agricultural workers, and the poor. Her run for the presidency in 1972 was a win in terms of her forging a unified grassroots campaign in which the voices of the previously voiceless joined together for a single cause of voting for someone who supported their diverse but collective interests. As many historians have pointed out, without Shirley Chisholm there may not have been a Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, or Kamala Harris.

Why have multiple mega-church leaders-Ted Haggard and Bishop Eddie Long, for example-committed acts of sexual misconduct? This book discusses the reasons in depth and examines how these acts are impacting the future of megachurches. Mega-churches-churches with congregations that number in the thousands of worshippers-are growing in popularity in America and around the world. Shockingly, a growing number of megachurch leaders have committed acts of sexual misconduct. While these scandalous crimes have received much attention through the media, literature that examines the topic in detail has been lacking. This book examines the various aspects of sexual misconduct by megachurch leaders, providing a comprehensive review of the topic that discusses the direct and indirect reasons for these crimes. The book provides unbiased, factual coverage of megachurch sexual abuse cases, covering issues surrounding the victims in specific cases, the role of the church, and notable ministers, such as Ted Haggard of New Life Church, Colorado Springs, CO; Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Lithonia, GA; and Joe Barron of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas, TX. The author also discusses how these incidences have impacted societal perceptions of religion, and large churches, and religious organizations, and provides recommendations to curb future cases of sexual abuse within megachurches.

This book provides a detailed examination of the life and legal legacy of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, including a discussion of the many legal cases in which he was involved. Thurgood Marshall was the first African American Supreme Court Justice. As a lawyer, he won the Supreme Court Case Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka that integrated all public schools in the United States. But Marshall's contributions extend far beyond significantly advancing the civil rights movement in this nation. Thurgood Marshall: A Biography discusses the life of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall in a chronological fashion, and then discusses his legacy after death. Students at all grade levels-including undergraduate and graduate college students-as well as historians and general readers interested in African American history , civil rights, or the U.S. legal system will find this book insightful and useful. A chronological timeline of the life of Thurgood Marshall A bibliography provides useful references

In 2008, the United States stood poised to possibly elect its first African American president. This fact, coupled with the economic and political climate of the nation, galvanized young voters and led to one of the highest youth voter turnout rates in history. The renewed enthusiasm of young voters creates a unique situation in the United States, as the current level of political excitement and voting efficacy of this age bracket can be used to benefit future presidential, state, and local elections. In The Galvanization of the Young Vote in the 2008 Presidential Election, Starks explores the factors that led to a surge in youth voting and outlines strategies for political parties to continue attracting young voters to the polls.

In 2008, the United States stood poised to possibly elect its first African American president. This fact, coupled with the economic and political climate of the nation, galvanized young voters and led to one of the highest youth voter turnout rates in history. The renewed enthusiasm of young voters creates a unique situation in the United States, as the current level of political excitement and voting efficacy of this age bracket can be used to benefit future presidential, state, and local elections. In The Galvanization of the Young Vote in the 2008 Presidential Election, Starks explores the factors that led to a surge in youth voting and outlines strategies for political parties to continue attracting young voters to the polls.

This encouraging guide coaches African American and first-generation college students on strategies for maximizing their experiences and success on university campuses. Marked gaps in academic achievements continue to exist between white and black students on college campuses in America. This motivational book, with contributions from academic role models from within the African American community, provides tools to help ethnically diverse students choose the best college, improve their study skills, and cope with academic anxiety. From college selection to graduation, this practical resource provides firsthand accounts of successful college experiences and the strategies used by former students to obtain their degrees. This work is divided into four parts. After an introductory section that addresses how to find the right college for aspiring students, the second part discusses the culture of an academic environment and reveals what incoming students may discover on a new campus. The third section introduces the language and lingo used in college settings. Finally, the guide concludes with conversations with successful African Americans who have achieved their undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees. The content also features a helpful college and university directory. Offers strategies to assist African American students with succeeding in college Reveals stories of African American graduates and tips for assimilating into an academic environment Provides detailed and updated resources on schools and organizations Explains logistics, operations, and terms used on college campuses

Provides an invaluable source for students as well as academics on the current condition of African Americans, highlighting disparities throughout an array of social, economic, and political areas. African Americans comprise approximately 12 percent of the population of the United States—a sizable proportion. Yet African Americans are incarcerated at rates disproportionate to their overall population in the United States. By examining a wide range of socioeconomic topics and supplying necessary background and contextual information, this book offers a multidimensional view of African American life that covers such critical areas as education, health, immigration and migration, employment, and the economy. This statistical guide presents extensive demographics on African Americans, breaks down the hard numbers, explains what the statistics indicate about the socioeconomic condition of African American life, and places this information into historical and contemporary context. This book also provides detailed comparisons of African Americans to other races and ethnic groups. Readers will be challenged to interpret the numbers and draw logical conclusions from them; as a result, this reference serves to help students build critical thinking skills that are essential to success in the classroom and beyond.

The president is arguably the most recognized and powerful individual in the United States. This reference work explores the American presidency in relation to issues of race concerning the African American community. This work provides a contemporary and refreshing examination of the American presidency through the prism of race and race relations in America, revealing a long and complicated relationship between the U.S. presidency and the African American community. The book evaluates each of the forty-five American presidents' policies, cabinet appointments, and handling of race matters in the United States. Following an extensive timeline, chronological chapters take an incisive look at each American president's life and career as well as the policies enacted during his presidency that affected the African American community. The presidents' personal writings, memoirs, autobiographies, and biographies frame their views on the issue of race and how they dealt with it before, during, and after their presidency.

This exhaustive analysis of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) throughout history discusses the institutions and the major events, individuals, and organizations that have contributed to their existence. The oldest HBCU, Cheyney University of Pennsylvania, was founded in 1837 by Quaker philanthropist Richard Humphreys as the Institute for Colored Youth. By 1902, at least 85 such schools had been established and, in subsequent years, the total grew to 105. Today approximately 16 percent of America's black college students are enrolled in HBCUs. Historically Black Colleges and Universities: An Encyclopedia brings the stories of these schools together in a comprehensive volume that explores the origin and history of each Historically Black College and University in the United States. Major founders and contributors to HBCUs, including whites, free blacks, churches, and states, are discussed and distinguished alumni are profiled. Specific examples of the impact of HBCUs and their alumni on American culture and the social and political history of the United States are also examined. In addition to looking at the HBCUs themselves, the book analyzes historical events and legislation of the past 174 years that impacted the founding, funding, and growth of these history-making schools. A complete timeline of events extending from the founding of the first HBCU in 1837 through the 21st century Photographs of HBCUs and key figures in their histories over a 150-year period Presidential executive orders and transcripts of major legislation that have impacted HBCUs An exhaustive list of over 1,000 prominent alumni of HBCUs and short, professional biographies of each Biographical information on major figures and organizations that have supported HBCUs A bibliography, including online resources and DVDs

With all of the progress African Americans have made, they still face many risks that threaten the entire race or place segments in jeopardy of survival. This work examines the widespread problem and suggests solutions. This two-volume set examines the issues and policies that put African Americans at risk in our culture today, utilizing the most recent research from scholars in the field to provide not only objective, encyclopedic information, but also varying viewpoints to encourage critical thinking. The entries comprehensively document how African Americans are treated differently, have more negative outcomes in the same situations than other races, and face risks due to issues inherent in their past or current social and economic conditions. Care is taken to note distinctions between subgroups and not further a "blanket approach" to the diverse members of this minority population. Intended for members of the African American community; societal scholars; students in the fields of health, social studies, and public policy; as well as general readers, this work will provide readers with a deeper understanding of key components affecting the lives of African Americans today. Examines up-to-date statistical data on the primary issues negatively impacting African Americans Provides extensive literary and data analysis of the issues addressed Discusses what can be done to improve the condition of African Americans Supplies concise background and investigates the implications of each key issue Includes an extensive bibliographic list of references for all issues discussed