Books That Inspire 2007
 
From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans
John Hope Franklin


One summer, I stumbled across my parents' bookshelves and started reading their book collection. One of those books was John Hope Franklin's From Slavery to Freedom. Franklin, a native Oklahoman, described the struggle for freedom out of slavery as central to the African American experience. That was a turning point for me, because that book, along with the other history books in my parents' collection, explored facets of American history that I didn't learn in school and wouldn't learn unless I asked about it on my own. From Slavery to Freedom, along with other books, explained the historical importance of that struggle to American society and that black history isn't just for black Americans, but for all Americans.
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Natalie Tindall
Assistant Professor
Journalism and Mass Communication