Ronda Racha Penrice-African American History For Dummies

563 Pages·2007·14.66 MB·English

by  Ronda Racha Penrice

African American History For
Dummies
by Ronda Racha Penrice
African American History For Dummies
Published by
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Copyright © 2007 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2007924232
ISBN: 978-0-7645-5469-8
Manufactured in the United States of America
Manufactured in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4
About the Author
Ronda Racha Penrice is a Chicago native with deep Mississippi roots who
has worked with various publications, including The Quarterly Black Review
of Books , Rap Pages , Essence Online , Nia Online , Creative Loafing,
Africana.com, AOL Black Voices, and Uptown . The Columbia University
alumna, who also attended graduate school at the University of Mississippi,
has a lifelong interest in African American history and culture. She currently
resides in Atlanta, GA. This is her first book.
Dedication
I humbly dedicate this book to my grandparents, Dessie Ree Shannon
Stapleton Beard (1925-1998) and Willie Beard (1920-2002), who taught me
honor, integrity, pride, and humanity by example. Because of their
unconditional love and support for me and my love of reading and writing, I
am here today always striving to make them proud.
I also dedicate this book to my great aunt, Ada Beard Humphries (1918-
2000). In her frequent retellings of transporting me from Chicago to
Mississippi, when I was just six weeks old, she made my humble beginnings
appear almost as magical as the birth of Jesus Christ and convinced me that I
could do and be anything.
In Memoriam: My uncle, John Curtis Beard (1957-1978) and his son, Curtis
Rodriguez Beard (1977-1999); and Dr. Endesha Ida Mae Holland (1944-
2006).
Author’s Acknowledgments
All thanks go to God first. I haven’t always been the most faithful servant but
He’s blessed me anyway.
Tonya Bolden, I owe you so much. You exemplify the values my
grandparents deemed most important. You’ve always been supportive and
have never hesitated to share an opportunity, including this amazing one.
Keep blessing the world.
I can’t say enough about my agent, Matt Wagner of Fresh Books, who
championed me every step of the way. Thank you, Stacy Kennedy of Wiley
Publishing, for taking a chance and sticking with me even when it looked like
a mistake. My first project editor Mike Baker put in the initial work to get me
started. Senior copy editor Elizabeth Rea added valuable insight throughout
the project. Words of gratitude are so inadequate to express my eternal debt
to the absolutely amazing Tracy Barr, who finally whipped me into shape. I
just hope the final product has made all those headaches distant memories.
I have to thank my village because, without them, I would be lost. My former
employer, surrogate mother, and frequent sponsor, Roz Stevenson has been
my angel on earth; my mother, Tyrethis Beard Penrice, and my brothers,
Raefeael Tylin Penrice and Darryl Russell Penrice. My aunts Willie Ann
Beard Benjamin, Carolyn Beard Humphries, their husbands Lawrence and
Kirby, Dorethen Beard Holman, Alberta Beard Ford, and my uncle Lawrence
Lee Beard and his wife Nellie; first cousins, Cedric Beard, Dwayne Beard,
James Beard, LaShawnda Benjamin, Kristy Holman Dixon, Sharleatha Smith
Beard Gayten, Trelva Humphries Harvey, Kendall Holman, Kerwin Holman,
and their families. My innumerable friends: Joane Amay, Paula Stokes, Tiaka
Hurst, Cantranette McCrimmon, Chianti Phillips, P.E. Cobb, Ebonette Bates,
Sharon Collins, Debra Brown, Sabrina Fuller, Bomani Jones, Deborah Cook,
Tony Murphy, Sheree Renee Thomas, LaTanya Marble, Michael Andre
Adams, Ken Gibbs, Jr., Dorothy Stefanski, Roni Sarig, Lumumba, Allen
Gordon, Jevaillier Jefferson, (cousin) Carol Wheeler, Leslie Lockhart,
Gordon, Jevaillier Jefferson, (cousin) Carol Wheeler, Leslie Lockhart,
(cousin) Danny Ray, Isoul H. Harris, Kym A. Backer, Scharla Ash, Hikmah
Housson, Landras Mitchell, Merrell Gantt, Gil Robertson, David Webber,
and the never forgotten Rodney Crump, Patrik Henry Bass, Burt Murray, Ms.
Etha Robinson, Serese Teate, (cousin) Vernon Rucks, (cousin) D.V. Rucks,
Peter Pazzaglini, and David F.A. Walker; I apologize to anyone I did forget.
It wasn’t intentional.