Call and Response

The Introduction by Henry Louis Gates Jr. makes a persuasive and lively case for teaching a debate-centered course and underscores the central role of these debates—many ongoing, all multisided—over four centuries up to "the Obama Era."

Essays, speeches, petitions, editorials, newspaper and journal articles, manifestos, political cartoons, advertisements, and photographs explore ideas that have been a source of debate within the black community and across color lines throughout American history.

These sections spotlight how key debates have played out in specific historical events, such as Marcus Garvey’s Back to Africa movement, the Ebonics controversy, or Anita Hill’s accusations of sexual harassment by Clarence Thomas.

• Part introductions give an overview of the time period.
• Headnotes introduce students to the author and context of the reading.