Great Speeches by African Americans: Frederick Douglass, Sojourner Truth, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Barack Obama, and Others (Dover Thrift Editions)

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An introduction to African-American history and oratory - I picked up a copy of this book to explore a growing interest in American oratory and, in particular, the rise of Barack Obama in the American policital stage and his potential place in history.My knowledge of the history of the USA, along with many other British students attending school in the 1980 s, starts and ends with the American Civil War and the plight of Native Americans. However, I am deeply moved by the speeches of Dr King - this book includes one of his most famous speeches which, rightfully I feel, is familiar to us all and, in particular, what it meant for the thousands of Americans stuggling for the same basic rights as others. The speeches within this collection are a fascinating insight to the history of Civil Rights in the USA and are themselves a chronicle of the desperately slow-moving and, at times, regressive politics surrounding the recognition of the rights for African Americans. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in modern history, an interest in American politics as well as anyone concerned with the power the majority can have over the majority - relevant to us all.

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