This book tells the story of how African-Americans, after slavery, became a political force, forming an embryonic black nation. Steven Hahn explores the role of rural African-Americans in key historical events like disunion and emancipation, highlighting the importance of kinship, labor, and communication networks in shaping political relations. The book delves into grassroots mobilization, local leadership, and the quest for self-governance in the rural South, connecting these struggles to later forms of black nationalism and civil rights movements. Hahn's narrative offers a new perspective on American democracy, emphasizing both inspiration and challenges in the evolution of black political consciousness.
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Belknap Press