The Black History of the White House
Encyclopedia
The Black History of the White House is a book by Clarence Lusane
concerning the history of the African-American community's relationship to government and the White House
as a symbol as well as a place of employment. The book begins with the founding of the United States and continues to the first few years of the Barack Obama administration.
to the First Lady Michelle Obama
. Topics discussed included in the book are the Founding Fathers, the abolitionist movement, slave owning presidents, Reconstruction, Jim Crow Laws
and the 1960s Civil Rights Movement
.
was invited to the White House
by President Barack Obama
to speak with staff in March 2011.
Clarence Lusane
Clarence Lusane is an African-American author, activist, lecturer and free-lance journalist. His most recent major work has been the publication of his book The Black History of the White House.-Background:...
concerning the history of the African-American community's relationship to government and the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
as a symbol as well as a place of employment. The book begins with the founding of the United States and continues to the first few years of the Barack Obama administration.
Content
At the beginning of each chapter Lusane provides a narrative of an African-American's "White House Story" ranging from an escaped slave once belonging to George WashingtonGeorge Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
to the First Lady Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States...
. Topics discussed included in the book are the Founding Fathers, the abolitionist movement, slave owning presidents, Reconstruction, Jim Crow Laws
Jim Crow laws
The Jim Crow laws were state and local laws in the United States enacted between 1876 and 1965. They mandated de jure racial segregation in all public facilities, with a supposedly "separate but equal" status for black Americans...
and the 1960s Civil Rights Movement
Civil rights movement
The civil rights movement was a worldwide political movement for equality before the law occurring between approximately 1950 and 1980. In many situations it took the form of campaigns of civil resistance aimed at achieving change by nonviolent forms of resistance. In some situations it was...
.
Critical reception
Following its 2010 publication The Black History of the White House has received much attention from the political community. To acknowledge the work, author Clarence LusaneClarence Lusane
Clarence Lusane is an African-American author, activist, lecturer and free-lance journalist. His most recent major work has been the publication of his book The Black History of the White House.-Background:...
was invited to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
by President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
to speak with staff in March 2011.