This title tells the story of the African leaders who ignited independence in black Africa during the 1960s through the eyes of two Americans who knew them well.

Meet the Greatest heroes of africa--from ancient to modern times "The books in the Black Stars series are the types of books that would have really captivated me as a kid." --Earl G. Graves, Black Enterprise magazine Kofi Annan Askia the Great Bambaata Behanzin Hossu Bowelle Stephen Biko Cetewayo Constance Cummings-John Imhotep Kenneth Kaunda Jomo Kenyatta Khama Sir Seretse Khama Patrice Lumumba Albert John Luthuli Nelson Mandela Menelik II Moshesh Mansa Musa Kwame Nkrumah Julius Nyerere Nzingha Piankhy Rabah Haile Selassie Albertina Sisulu Osei Tutu Youssef I

Every year, American schoolchildren celebrate Black History Month. They study almost exclusively American stories, which are not only rooted in struggle over enslavement or oppression, but also take in only four hundred years of a rich and thrilling history that goes back many millennia across the African continent. Through portraits of ten historical figures - from Menes, the first ruler to be called Pharaoh, to Queen Idia, a sixteenth-century power broker, visionary, and diplomat - African Iconstakes readers on a journey across Africa to meet some of the great leaders and thinkers whose ideas built a continent and shaped our world.

Since 1619, when Africans first came ashore in the swampy Chesapeake region of Virginia, there have been many individuals whose achievements or strength of character in the face of monumental hardships have called attention to the genius of the African American people. This book attempts to distill from many wonderful possibilities the 100 most outstanding examples of greatness. Pioneering scholar of African American Studies Molefi Kete Asante has used four criteria in his selection: the individual''s significance in the general progress of African Americans toward full equality in the American social and political system; self-sacrifice and the demonstration of risk for the collective good; unusual will and determination in the face of the greatest danger or against the most stubborn odds; and personal achievement that reveals the best qualities of the African American people. In adopting these criteria Professor Asante has sought to steer away from the usual standards of popular culture, which often elevates the most popular, the wealthiest, or the most photogenic to the cult of celebrity. The individuals in this book - examples of lasting greatness as opposed to the ephemeral glare of celebrity fame - come from four centuries of African American history. Each entry includes brief biographical information, relevant dates, an assessment of the individual''s place in African American history with particular reference to a historical timeline, and a discussion of his or her unique impact on American society. Numerous pictures and illustrations will accompany the articles. This superb reference work will complement any library and be of special interest to students and scholars of American and African American history.

Ten short biographies on heroes from the African Diaspora that most kids won't hear about in history class.

This title tells the story of the African leaders who ignited independence in black Africa during the 1960s through the eyes of two Americans who knew them well.

Brief biographies of native African heroes and heroines with emphasis on those from south of the Sahara.