John Smith

"In 1962, boxing writers and fans considered Cassius Clay an obnoxious self-promoter, and few believed that he would become the heavyweight champion of the world. But Malcolm X, the most famous minister in the Nation of Islam -- a sect many white Americans deemed a hate cult -- saw the potential in Clay, not just for boxing greatness, but as a means of spreading the Nation's message. . . . Acclaimed historians Randy Roberts and Johnny Smith reconstruct...

Jesse Owens' quest to become the greatest track and field athlete in history launches him onto the world stage of the 1936 Olympics, where he faces off against Adolf Hitler's vision of Aryan supremacy.

This Civil War history provides an in-depth look at the impact and experiences of African American men fighting in the Union Army. After President Lincoln issued the final Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863, many enslaved people in the Confederate south made the perilous journey north-then put their lives at risk again by joining the Union army. These U.S. Colored Troops, as the War Department designated most black units, performed a variety...

Informed by research in African-American, military and social history, the 14 essays in this volume tell the stories of the African-American soldiers who fought for the Union cause. Collectively, they probe the military, political and social significance of black soldiers' armed service.