Best of
Ethnicity

2009

From Toussaint to Tupac: The Black International since the Age of Revolution


Michael O. West - 2009
    At its core, black internationalism is a struggle against oppression, whether manifested in slavery, colonialism, or racism. The ten essays in this volume offer a comprehensive overview of the global movements that define black internationalism, from its origins in the colonial period to the present.From Toussaint to Tupac focuses on three moments in global black history: the American and Haitian revolutions, the Garvey movement and the Communist International following World War I, and the Black Power movement of the late twentieth century. Contributors demonstrate how black internationalism emerged and influenced events in particular localities, how participants in the various struggles communicated across natural and man-made boundaries, and how the black international aided resistance on the local level, creating a collective consciousness.In sharp contrast to studies that confine Black Power to particular national locales, this volume demonstrates the global reach and resonance of the movement. The volume concludes with a discussion of hip hop, including its cultural and ideological antecedents in Black Power.Contributors: Hakim Adi, Middlesex University, LondonSylvia R. Frey, Tulane UniversityWilliam G. Martin, Binghamton UniversityBrian Meeks, University of the West Indies, Mona, JamaicaMarc D. Perry, University of Illinois, Urbana-ChampaignLara Putnam, University of PittsburghVijay Prashad, Trinity CollegeRobyn Spencer, Lehman CollegeRobert T. Vinson, College of William and MaryMichael O. West, Binghamton UniversityFanon Che Wilkins, Doshisha University, Kyoto, JapanThe contributors are Hakim Adi, Sylvia R. Frey, William G. Martin, Brian Meeks, Marc D. Perry, Lara Putnam, Vijay Prashad, Robyn Spencer, Robert T. Vinson, Michael O. West, and Fanon Che Wilkins.