From slavery to freedom: history of Negro American

The nine years that have elapsed since this work first appeared have been among the most momentous in the history of the American Negro. The postwar years witnessed vigorous efforts, not always successful, on the part of Negroes and many white Amer icans to elevate substantially the position of the Negro in American life. The 1954 decision of the Supreme Court in the school desegre gation cases was the most dramatic and significant of the frontal attacks on segregation and discrimination, but by no means was it the only one. World attention, moreover, has been focused on the issue of race as never before, and the status of the Negro in the United States has been scrutinized with extreme care by peoples in many other parts of the world. This very scrutiny has had a most salutary effect. The task of the historian in tracing and properly evaluating the numerous developments that have taken place. abounds in difficulties, but it nevertheless seems worthwhile at this point to take cognizance of some of the more significant trends. The increased interest in the problems of the Ne gro has stimulated much research and writing in the field; the numerous books and articles on almost every aspect and period of Negro life and history have greatly increased my understanding of the matters with which this book deals. At many points the influence of these works is reflected. I can only hope that I have done vio lence neither to the diligent work of others nor to the dramatic events that have transpired.