A Nation Under Our Feet

Black Political Struggles in the Rural South from Slavery to the Great Migration

By: Steven Hahn

Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine

This is the epic story of how African-Americans, in the six decades following slavery, transformed themselves into a political people - an embryonic black nation. As Steven Hahn demonstrates, rural African-Americans were central political actors in the great events of disunion, emancipation, and nation-building. At the same time, Hahn asks us to think in more expansive ways about the nature and boundaries of politics and political practice. Emphasizing the importance of kinship, labor, and networks of communication, A Nation under Our Feet explores the political relations and sensibilities that developed under slavery and shows how they set the stage for grassroots mobilization. Hahn introduces us to local leaders, and shows how political communities were built, defended, and rebuilt. He also identifies the quest for self-governance as an essential goal of black politics across the rural South, from contests for local power during Reconstruction, to emigrationism, biracial electoral alliances, social separatism, and, eventually, migration. Hahn suggests that Garveyism and other popular forms of black nationalism absorbed and elaborated these earlier struggles, thus linking the first generation of migrants to the urban North with those who remained in the South. He offers a new framework - looking out from slavery - to understand 20th-century forms of black political consciousness as well as emerging battles for civil rights. It is a powerful story, told here for the first time, and one that presents both an inspiring and a troubling perspective on American democracy.

©2003 The President and Fellows of Harvard College (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

A staple

If you want to learn African American history from the beginning this book is one place to start. Richest description of slave life I've ever read, learned so much with this one, 5 stars.

A Necessary Read

History is too politically jarring for every one in charge of its dissemination to want all of its parts delivered. Even scientists are people, alas the story of the fate of the population of laborers who are responsible for this nations wealth and their ascent into citizenship from the status of chattel is as important as any facet of this nations history.

This books contents are important for all Americans to know. Read it for the sake of the soul of your nation. Take up the mantle of this nations creed and leave the guilt and blame behind.

Awesome listen...

It was a great listen & very informative peace of work on American History. Interesting to know how in tune Black Americans were with politics of that present day. Black Power!