Thursday, February 27, 2014
[Quick Picks] Black History Month: A Brave Black Regiment
A BRAVE BLACK REGIMENT : HISTORY OF THE FIFTY-FOURTH REGIMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, 1863-1865 by Luis F. Emilio (Bantam Reprint Edition, 1992)
Note: The Boston Book Company edition was published in 1894
The acclaimed film Glory was inspired by the book, A Brave
Black Regiment. It was written by an eyewitness, Luis F. Emilio, to the bravery
of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War. This African
American unit’s service and extraordinary courage in the face of being poorly
supplied with equipment, underpaid, and fully aware of death if taken prisoner
by Confederates, was a turning point in United States military history. The
54th Massachusetts participated in some of the fiercest fighting of the Civil
War, and fired one of the first shots toward equality for all United States
citizens. --Marilyn, Central Library
Labels: Black History Month, Quick Picks, Staff Recommendations
Monday, February 24, 2014
[Quick Picks] Black History Month: The Wereth Eleven
I never heard of the Wereth Eleven before until I saw a
portion of this film on television. I
was happy to watch the full DVD thanks to a copy I checked out from our
library. It is the powerful and tragic story of eleven African American soldiers from the
U.S. Army’s 333rd Field Artillery Regiment. During World War II,
these soldiers escaped capture from the German SS, only to become victims of a horrific
massacre in Wereth, Belgium that was quietly investigated and forgotten.
This is a very emotional film that combines
action packed war reenactments with witness testimony and historical footage that
viewers won’t ever forget. -- Darletha, South Branch
Labels: Black History Month, Quick Picks, Staff Recommendations
Friday, February 21, 2014
[Quick Picks] Black History Month: Crowns
CROWNS: PORTRAITS OF BLACK WOMEN IN CHURCH HATS by Michael
Cunningham & Craig MarberryLabels: Black History Month, Quick Picks, Staff Recommendations
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
[Quick Picks] Black History Month: Mississippi in Africa
MISSISSIPPI IN AFRICA: THE SAGA OF THE SLAVES OF PROSPECT HILL PLANTATION AND THEIR LEGACY IN AFRICA (2004) by Alan Huffman
 I
enjoyed reading this book for many reasons. First of all, I was familiar with
African American slaves going to Liberia in West Africa to start a new
country, but I did not know many slaves from Mississippi went as well. Once
there, they created a province in Liberia called Mississippi and even named
the cities in the province for cities in Mississippi. They also created
replicas of the large plantations they used to work on in America. Secondly,
I enjoyed reading this book because it deals with the story of slave owner
Isaac Ross.
Ross
was Revolutionary War veteran who moved from South Carolina along with his
family and slaves to Southwest Mississippi in the early 1800's. Some of his
slaves who fought along with him in the Revolutionary War were freed after
the war and moved with him as well to Mississippi. Isaac Ross put in his will
that his slaves be given the option of receiving their freedom and sent to
Liberia, Africa, or remaining in Mississippi.
Upon
his death, his children and family contested the will. A court battle ensued
and the Mississippi state legislature had to get involved. The court battle
lasted ten years. During that time the slaves which knew they were supposed
to be freed became restless and revolted. They burned down Prospect Hill
Plantation. Once granted their freedom in 1850, most chose to go to Liberia
but a few chose not to.
Lastly, I enjoyed reading this book because it helped
me piece together some information for my own genealogy. My great-great-great-grandmother
Peggy Ross and her husband who are mentioned in the book chose to go to
Liberia. One of her sons, David Ross, my great-great-grandfather, decided to
remain in Mississippi. Overall I found the book to be an enjoyable read.
--Lanny, Frayser Branch |
Labels: Black History Month, Quick Picks, Staff Recommendations
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
[Quick Picks] Black History Month: The Color Purple
 THE COLOR PURPLE (1982) by Alice Walker
I enjoyed this story of Celie, the novel's protagonist, who faced all kinds of obstacles and tribulations, but still rose above each of her oppressors to become a confident, endearing young woman.
--Andrea, Poplar-White Station Branch
|
Labels: Black History Month, Quick Picks, Staff Recommendations
Friday, February 07, 2014
[Quick Picks] Black History Month: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Library staff share recommendations in honor of Black History Month. Click the title to find copies of materials at one of our branches.
ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY (1976) by Mildred Taylor
ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY (1976) by Mildred Taylor
Roll
of Thunder, Hear My Cry is a children’s book about the Logans, a fictional
African-American family living in rural Mississippi in 1933. The story is
told from the point of view of 9-year-old Cassie Logan. Some of the
experiences in the book are actually based upon real occurrences from Mildred
Taylor’s own family stories shared over the generations.
Taylor pens a
powerful narrative chronicling the incidents that make up the lives of the
family, from something as small as a family dinner, to much larger events
surrounding the region, like lynch mobs. She does not shy away from the
harsher aspects of this time period; the family experiences hardship and
heartbreak. However, she also explores the strength that can be found in
family and community through tough times. This is a great historical fiction
novel for readers looking to experience, along with Cassie, the difficulties
(and the joys) of what being an African-American meant in 1933 in the rural
South. --Angie, Central Library
|
Labels: Black History Month, Quick Picks, Staff Recommendations
