Description
Book SynopsisTrade Review"Many historians focus on Nat Turner, Harriet Tubman, Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, and Mary Church Terrell as the leading African American civil rights advocates of the 19th century. Yet Duane reminds us of two critical black leaders who influenced the national civil rights debate and symbolized the era's frustrating potential: James McCune Smith (1813-1865) and Henry Highland Garnet (1815-1882)...A compelling tale." * Kirkus Reviews *
"In this dual biography, Duane tells the stories of James McCune Smith and Henry Highland Garnet. These men led remarkable lives at a time when opportunities for African Americans...were severely circumscribed. A must-read for those interested in antebellum African American life and education." * Library Journal (starred) *
"Duane casts a revealing dual biography of James McCune Smith (1813–1865) and Henry Highland Garnet (1815–1882) against the backdrop of early-19th-century debates over the future of black people in America... [She] eloquently describes the threats and obstacles black children faced in pursuit of their education...this erudite chronicle succeeds in lifting up two underappreciated figures of the antislavery movement." * Publishers Weekly *
