To Reach the Nation''s Ear - A History of African American Public Speaking

Throughout much of American history, African Americans have been denied easy access to most of the traditional modes of effective reform, such as newspapers, legislative assemblies, unions and political parties. Public speaking has thus been one of the most critically important means by which leaders and individuals have reached an audience, enacted or prevented change, and created community. Dating from the earliest days of American history, the African American community has produced many notable and eloquent speakers and has demonstrated a vibrant oral tradition. The volume will follow a chronological organization, tracing the history of African American public speaking from colonial times to the present.

List of contents

Introduction
Chapter 1: Liberty, Equality and Salvation: African Americans at the Start of the Nation
Chapter 2: All Manner of Reforms
Chapter 3: Emancipation, Segregation and Migration
Chapter 4: Lifting as We Climb: Advancing the Cause
Chapter 5: Waves of Reform and Revolution: The Modern Civil Rights Movement
Chapter 6: "I Am Somebody": Public Speaking in the Age of Integration
Chapter 7: Barack Obama and the "Post-Racial" Society
Bibliographic Essay

About the author

Richard W. Leeman is professor of Communication Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He is the author of several books, including The Teleological Discourse of Barack Obama (Lexington), and the editor/author of several more, including African-American Orators: A BioCritical Sourcebook and The Will of A People: A Critical Anthology of Great African American Speeches.

Product details

• Authors: Richard W. Leeman, Leeman Richard W.
• Publisher: Rowman and Littlefield
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.12.2018
• EAN: 9781538112311
• ISBN: 978-1-5381-1231-1
• No. of pages: 254
• Series: American Ways
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Cultural history; Non-fiction book > History > Miscellaneous; Social sciences, law, business > Media, communication > Communication science; Social & cultural history, Communication Studies, Social and cultural history, Ethnic groups and multicultural studies, Black & Asian Studies, HISTORY / African American & Black, Relating to African American / Black American people