Description: The Cause of Freedom covers the long sweep of African American history from the seventeenth century to the present. Throughout that long arc, this book traces shifting definitions of citizenship as they relate to race and highlights the deep paradox at the core of U.S. history: the interdependence of slavery and freedom. In so doing, The Cause of Freedom examines key ideas that have shaped African American history, and the ways that these ideas circulate among both well-known figures and ordinary people. It synthesizes cultural, social, political, and intellectual history in order to excavate and analyze the African American past.
Review Quotes: "The Cause of Freedom demands careful consideration by all Americans to ensure everyone clearly understands how Black people have struggled to achieve racial justice, so far with only limited success...The Cause of Freedom will help all readers understand the pressing need to finally achieve this lofty goal." -- D. R. Jamieson, CHOICE
"In this engagingly written volume, Jonathan Holloway has penned the perfect short history of African Americans, beginning his sweeping narrative with the arrival of Africans on the shore of Jamestown in 1619 and ending with the emergence of Black Lives Matter. Throughout this compelling history, Holloway challenges the reader to consider what it means to be an American, a citizen, and, most importantly, a human being. The Cause of Freedom is both a wonderful introduction to African American history for those new to the topic and a handy reference for those who are well-versed in the field." --Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Alphonse Fletcher University Professor, Harvard University"In this meditation on what is meant by American, Jonathan Holloway manages to identify critical questions that excavate the relationship between the past and the present. This is an important read for both newcomers and old-timers who want to know more about African American history." --Earl Lewis, Thomas C. Holt Distinguished University Professor of History, Afroamerican and African Studies and Public Policy