Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars | 6,370 ratings

Price: 17.72

Last update: 02-25-2025


About this item

A chorus of extraordinary voices comes together to tell one of history’s great epics: the 400-year journey of African Americans from 1619 to the present - edited by Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist, and Keisha N. Blain, author of Set the World on Fire.

The story begins in 1619 - a year before the Mayflower - when the White Lion disgorges “some 20-and-odd Negroes” onto the shores of Virginia, inaugurating the African presence in what would become the United States. It takes us to the present, when African Americans, descendants of those on the White Lion and a thousand other routes to this country, continue a journey defined by inhuman oppression, visionary struggles, stunning achievements, and millions of ordinary lives passing through extraordinary history.

Four Hundred Souls is a unique one-volume “community” history of African Americans. The editors, Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, have assembled ninety brilliant writers, each of whom takes on a five-year period of that four-hundred-year span. The writers explore their periods through a variety of techniques: historical essays, short stories, personal vignettes, and fiery polemics. They approach history from various perspectives: through the eyes of towering historical icons or the untold stories of ordinary people; through places, laws, and objects. While themes of resistance and struggle, of hope and reinvention, course through the book, this collection of diverse pieces from ninety different minds, reflecting ninety different perspectives, fundamentally deconstructs the idea that Africans in America are a monolith - instead it unlocks the startling range of experiences and ideas that have always existed within the community of Blackness.

This is a history that illuminates our past and gives us new ways of thinking about our future, written by the most vital and essential voices of our present.

Read by a full cast, including:

Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Amir Abdullah, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Kristen Ariza, Dashawn Barnes, Joshua Bennett, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Andre Blake, Torian Brackett, Donte Bonner, Mahogany L. Browne, Ron Butler, Kellie Carter-Jackson, Brianna Collette, Karen Chilton, Sean Crisden, Keith David, Angela Y. Davis, William DeMeritt, Leonard Dozier, Robin Eller, Kevin R. Free, James Fouhey, Alicia Garza, Dion Graham, Danai Gurira, Jerome Harmann-Hardeman, Jamal Henderson, Ethan Herisse, Susan Heyward, Cary Hite, Dominic Hoffman, Sherrilyn Ifill, James Monroe Iglehart, JD Jackson, Zainab Jah, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Sullivan Jones, Peter Francis James, Terrence Kidd, January LaVoy, Adam Lazarre-White, Keylor Leigh, Nicole Lewis, Dennis Logan, Chante McCormick, Desmond Manny, Jesus Martinez, Heather McGhee, Sheryl Mebane, Robin Miles, Karen Murray, Soneela Nankani, Leon Nixon, Soledad O’Brien, Leslie Odom, Jr., Adenrele Ojo, Genesis Oliver, Prentice Onayemi, Tovah Ott, Morgan Parker, Imani Parks, Lisa Renee Pitts, Imani Jade Powers, Rhett Samuel Price, Bill Quinn, Phylicia Rashad, David Sadzin, Joshua David Scarlett, Heather Alicia Simms, Shayna Small, Patricia Smith, Marisha Tapera, Tashi Thomas, Damian Thompson, TL Thompson, Ella Turenne, Bahni Turpin, Anita Welch, Jade Wheeler, Samira Wiley, Zenzi Williams, Mirron Willis, Andia Winslow, Kai Wright, and with co-editors Ibram X. Kendi, and Keisha N. Blain


Top reviews from the United States

  • Riley
    5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2025
    This was a required reading for one of my college courses, and while I never would have read this on my own, I’m so happy I did. This book is a collection of essays covering over four hundred years worth of African American History that is often ignored or not given the attention it deserves. This book will provide a deeper understanding and healthier perspective of the history of African Americans in America. Definitely worth the read!
    Customer image
    Riley
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    excellent book

    Reviewed in the United States on January 14, 2025
    This was a required reading for one of my college courses, and while I never would have read this on my own, I’m so happy I did. This book is a collection of essays covering over four hundred years worth of African American History that is often ignored or not given the attention it deserves. This book will provide a deeper understanding and healthier perspective of the history of African Americans in America. Definitely worth the read!
    Images in this review
  • Smlucci
    5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful, critical, thoughtful book for NOW
    Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2022
    Besides being one of the most well-written, well-edited books I've ever read, THIS is a fabulous and necessary book for THIS moment, when we have the opportunity to begin to make amends for all the harm we caused this past 400 years to far more than 400 souls. Succinct, powerful prose/poetry punctuates historical experiences, weaving it so meaningfully and poignantly into TODAY. I savored every section of this community compendium slowly--as each varied voice deepened, widened and broke my heart open. 400 Souls is a brilliant offering to fill in the missing gaps of American history. This collection will remain on my top shelf as a visible, invaluable re-Source of amazing human voices so shamefully invisibilized and undervalued for these past 400 years. Bravo, Ibram! Brava, Keisha!
  • H. Ratliff
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Revelation Of African American History!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2024
    This book is a great chronological history of African Americans from 1619-2019. I thoroughly enjoyed what each and every author added in their perspectives, their stance, and the facts wherein our children need to know our history. I was pleasantly surprised to have read what my former professor, Barbara Smith, added in how the feminist movement that she was apart began in Boston. This is a must read, kudos to Kendi and Blain!!!
  • Gladys
    5.0 out of 5 stars Relevance ~ The Missing History of America
    Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2021
    This is A MUST READ for those who embrace white supremacy, fascism, bigotry and lift up racism in America. Many will continue to try to erase an entire race of people, that were actually here first ('personally' two sets of my lineage). The history that is taught in schools of this country's beginning should be called the fiction books versus history books. White nationalism verbiage of go back to where you came from speaks volumes: refusing the truth about kidnappings and theft of a country is high level ignorance. I compare it to a parent kicking a child out after giving birth to them; we're here because you bought and brought us here. It's curious how someone can discover a place where people already existed: denied knowledge is what I call that. I am not surprised by the strength of Black Americans who continue to accomplish many things over so many obstacles for so long. There are times I catch myself daydreaming; imagine the accomplishments which could have been realized in America's history if there was no foot on our neck or shots to the back. If we could just get them to move on from ideals of turning back the clock to the days of 'Strange Fruit', there could be hope. Understandably this is just fear of us, because given every opportunity for success due to skin color, they see non-whites jump obstacles thrown by them, the privileged and, 'We Still Rise!!' That fearfulness to accept, it's not our skin color, but the breadth of strength of a race that won't say quit. And, we will never be the enemy you are to us, to you, because we've already taken your best shot and look at what we continue to do. Once again we have risen to the top to carry this nation forward for all Americans. We will continue to try and create an America for the people by the people, because frankly that is not what white nationalism have in mind.

    Speaking for me, I feel sorry for them, because they should be comfortable in their own skin, I am. I have no need to tear someone down because of skin color or nationality to raise myself up. I will always show humanity to mankind, since we're all created equal in the eyes of God, right?

    And that is what this book summarizes in short chapters and poems - Other in America - you can tear us down, but you will never really destroy our resolve
  • Jill M. Nolan
    4.0 out of 5 stars "Four Hundred Souls": Required Reading for the Students of History
    Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2023
    "Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019" is an important and thought-provoking book that provides an in-depth look at the history of African Americans over four centuries. Written by a team of experts and edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, the book is divided into 90 chapters, each written by a different author and covering a specific period or topic.

    One of the strengths of the book is its focus on community and how African Americans have come together to survive and thrive in the face of adversity. The book covers a wide range of topics, including slavery, the Civil War, the Civil Rights Movement, and the Black Lives Matter movement, and provides a nuanced and nuanced understanding of the challenges and triumphs of African American history.

    Another strength of the book is its use of primary sources, including letters, speeches, and other documents, which help to bring history to life and provide a sense of immediacy and intimacy. The book also includes illustrations, photographs, and other visual aids, making it a rich and engaging read.

    Overall, "Four Hundred Souls" is a powerful and enlightening book that provides a comprehensive and nuanced look at the history of African Americans. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities and richness of African American history and culture.

    I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars, the book is very informative and well-written but in some parts, it could be a bit dense to read for the general audience.

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