This book was published in 1868, but was actually written around 1860, before the U.S. Civil War, just prior to Abraham Lincoln's first term in the White House. Tension was building up between the North and South - the abolition movement was gaining support in the North, while the Southern economy depended on slave labor. White Supremacy is a response to these abolitionists.

Van Evrie's central theme is that white Caucasians are superior to every other form of life on this planet, and that God created other races of men, particularly black Africans, to serve whites. Because blacks are naturally inferior to whites, Van Evrie says, it is the natural order of things to force them to work, and what is called "slavery" in the United States is not slavery at all. Rather, because blacks are naturally subordinate, they are only free when put to such labor.

In support of this, Van Evrie includes a comparison of the white Caucasian and the black African, detailing the superiority of the white man's hair ("there is certainly no physical or outward quality that so imposingly impresses itself on the senses as a mark of superiority, or evidence of supremacy, as a full and flowing beard"), color ("color is the standard and exact admeasurement of the specific character"), features, language, senses, and the brain. This is all accompanied by hideous caricatures of the races, showing the tall and strong Caucasian, and the slouching, lazy Negro ("the anatomical formation ... forbids an erect position"), and all the races in between the most superior and most inferior.

Blacks all look alike, says Van Evrie - this is because, aside from age and sex, they are alike. They have no likes and dislikes, or at least not on the same level as whites. They cannot express emotions as whites can, and therefore do not have emotions at the same level. They do not learn like whites, and in fact peak mentally at about the age of fifteen.

Because of these things, it is ridiculous to want equality for blacks in the sense of treating them as whites. Rather, it is our God-given right, and even obligation, to use the "mud races" to our advantage.

It is a thoroughly disgusting work, but also an extremely important work, as it illustrates some popular beliefs during one of the darker periods in American history.

It is extremely racist for the author and other "liberals" to denounce William Hannibal Thomas for "betraying" his "race." Isn't "race" a fiction? A mulatto is not a Negro. Thomas was really no different from the average mulatto in his views regarding mulatto superiority and Negro inferiority. He was just more public about it. Even your mulatto "black" hero W.E.B. DuBois believed in mulatto superiority. What do you think his "Talented Tenth" was? Do you recall how DuBois described Marcus Garvey in the most perjorative racial terms because the latter was black and not mulatto?

If the liberal author condemns Thomas as a "race traitor," then he is indirectly endorsing the view of white supremacists who believe in white "race traitors." If "race" is not a biological fact, how can there be any "race traitors"?

In defense of Thomas and other Anglo mulattoes and mixed-whites who proudly reject the black stigma, may I ask why Latinos (also a mixed race, partially black group), Indians, Asians, etc. have never been condemned for the same "sins" of looking down on blacks and identifying more with whites? Mexican elites, for example, were willing to condemn blacks as inferior as long as Mexicans as a group could have the honored label of "white." Why don't they receive the condemnation and sneering that Anglos of mixed-race receive even when they just live their lives and make no statements on "race"? Why? Why don't liberals rejoice at THEIR misfortunes and proclaim that the uppity in-betweens had it coming to them?

Smith should condemn himself as a "racist" for promoting the "one drop" myth and forced hypodescent. As a liberal, he misleads people of good will into endorsing anti-mulatto racism as a defense of blacks. That is the source of the "race traitor" accusation against William Hannibal Thomas. He is being used as a scapegoat.

As a biracial, i'm compelled to say: You are a bigoted woman. Most mulattoes do not think they are superiour over blacks, they are not hateful like you. W.E.B Dubois was proud to be a negro, he help found the NAACP.

A thorough, detailed account of how William Hannibal Thomas transformed from an activist and advocate into someone who projected his own feelings of insecurity and inferiority onto his fellow African-Americans. The author does an excellent job of giving Thomas's changing perceptions historical context. All in all, a compelling book.

This book is really only worth one star, but it got two only due to the fact that it is so much better than its sequel. The art is very cluttered and drab, the script horrible, corny and with many grammatical mistakes. The artists seemed to have a lot of trouble drawing the Odan-Urr character. The plot is stupid and pointless, the characters uninteresting, and too much time is wasted on plot points which really have no consequence. The Jedi are kinda wimpy whiners, and their lightsaber external power supplies were silly. The Sith were a bunch of stupid, bickering idiots, as were Jori and Gav, who desperately need to get a life.

This is one of the very worst SW comics available on the market, and I recommend that you stay away from it.

On the SW time line this is the first of the OLD REPUBLIC ERA stories released Aug 1997. Written by Kevin j Anderson, author of the JEDI ACADEMY TRILOGY (1994), KJA is one of the more important writers in the SW universe, or at least he was. He wrote the young jedi series, and those kids are now the heart of the jedi in the NJO series of books. He also wrote the Essential chronology with Daniel Wallace released in 2000. These old republic are comics have been criticized as almost unrecognizable from the jedi that luke is training.
It is not my job to defend KJA and his story, but times were different. What I can't explain away is the poor editing. All the ORE comics are confusing as heck. Most of them have no importance to the Skywalker era. The art work that gets a C grade, but Darkhorse has made tremendous strides in later comics. Comics produced in 2002 and 2003 have stunning artwork! I'll give this comic a 3 star review for starting things off.

This is actually the first STAR WARS story in the entire chronology. Although be advised that it was published by Dark Horse Comics later in the TALES OF THE JEDI (TOTJ) run, in 1996-1997, as 5 issues and one #0 issue.

If you're going to read the TOTJ series, I recommend you start with this one. It's a great introduction to the Old Republic and the hidden Sith empire.

Kevin J. Anderson does a good job with the story and the characters. Some backstory on the origin of the Sith is provided. It is very cool to see the Sith and their manipulations, the conflict among themselves. The art is very good, with impressive planets and character designs. There is a nice level of detail and the coloring is above average.

I really like TOTJ because it is so far removed from all other incarnations of SW. There is so much to explore, and the history of the Sith is something that has always been of keen interest to me.

THE GOLDEN AGE OF THE SITH is a fast-paced read that entertains all the way through.

This story is concluded in TALES OF THE JEDI: THE FALL OF THE SITH EMPIRE.

I bought this book because I was intrigued by the notion that Herlihy believed the Black Death was a blessing in disguise e.g. an ushering of the Technological Age, strengthened belief in Christianity, reshaping of society.

These theories proved interesting. I was also very impressed with the first chapter, which describes the plague medically, relates it to recent outbreaks of a similar nature and does a good job of theorizing how and why the plague ravaged Europe. I was interested to learn that the disease itself only killed a small percentage of people; in later years labor shortages, diminishing returns and lower birth rates helped to devistate the population more than the plagues actually did.

However, the book is too short. It is merely an introduction to this vast topic. I have read other books that briefly mention the plague but do their best to describe alternate theories on the disease, relating the sickness to the foods consumed at the times, the living conditions and essentially doing a lot more to understand what the plague actually was. Unfortunately Herlihy only dabbles in this and leaves me wanting more informaiton, instead of feeling satisfied with my knowledge of this topic. Perhaps because this is a general look at all of Europe and the plague. Perhaps if he had written about The Black Death in England or The Black Death in Italy he would have afforded a greater breadth of detail.

I recommend this book as a suppliment to the study of the plague; do not expect to become an expert by these 81 pages alone.

I picked this book as an assignment for my Western Civ. class in college. It turned out to be a very interesting look at the Plague and its effects on Medieval society. I especially enjoyed Dr. Herlihy's theories about the spread of Christianity as a result of the Plague. It was also very interesting to learn more about the medical aspects of the Plague, as well as its implications on European society and commerce. A great read for anyone interested in the Black Death!!

This book is not a broad survey or a complete history. It is quite short and assumes a good bit of knowledge of the plague and of general European history.

He addresses three issues. First, he points out that historians really can't be sure of the composition of the plague itself. Was it actually all just bubonic plague, or some combination of various other diseases? Second, what were the economic effects of the plague? Did the relative scarcitity of labor following the plague break Europe out of a 'Malthusian deadlock' into a growing economy? Finally, what was the effect of the plague on the social order? Did it help to Christianize Europe?

The book is written in a fairly academic style, but it is very readable. My biggest complaint is that is so short. I wish he had written more.

This rather short coffee-table book is most notable for its collection of photos of Eleanor Roosevelt and her family. The photos are extensive, and a few have not been seen before by non-historians like myself. Otherwise, there was almost nothing new to be learned about this very remarkable and intelligent woman, much to my disappointment! Most amazing was that her grandson actually admitted that he was ignorant of her role on the public stage until her death when he was 20 years old!

I love everything and every pictures too. Thank you.

What a pity! I had heard great things about this book and was hoping for an evenhanded historical tale worthy of the subject matter. What I got instead was an obviously well researched study that inexplicably refused to consider a number of critical points. How did Vesey's deliverance from bondage play into his evolving perception of the world around him? While Robertson speculates on less relevent material, this event is hardly noted. How about the evidence against the existence of a well planned, well backed rebellion? Virtually no weapons were found, few dedicated participants identified relative to the 9000 soldiers claimed to have been proselytized by Vesey's vision, and amazingly, no apparent incorporation of the female slave population! In fact, from the evidence provided by the author it can be argued that this rebellion was simply a violent plot hatched by a small group of unusually autonomous black slaves under the leadership of an ever increasingly unbalanced leader.

The best evidence favoring the view put forth by Robertson are the cultural identities exploited by Vesey and his captains and their ability to effectively communicate in any number of languages. This point has been noted as a key factor in the successful slave rebellion in Haiti and cross comparisons between these events were noticibly absent.

All this said, the book does bring forward an important sociological event in American history. I just wish the author had taken a more rigorous historical approach.

The subject of Denmark Vesey and his slave revolt is interesting and required reading for anyone who desires to know what pre Civil War America was like. The book does an excellant job generally describing the interaction of slaves and masters in 1820's South Carolina; espically in how slaves dealt with their opression. However, the book falls short in the specifics of planning and failure of Vesey's revolt. This could be because the information is scanty, but the book left me with the feeling that there was more.

Vesey organized a revolt that if sucessful would have devestated Charleston, including the massacre of the white population. How Vesey came so close to suceeding is not adequately discussed. It is left to generalizations.

On the whole the book is very worthwhile reading. However, it is only a start and suceeds in wetting ones appetite.

The more History I read of this Country the more I seem to read about South Carolina. I am not a concentrated reader of The Civil War, and while South Carolina played key roles in that conflict, it also was the locale of a number of additional notable events in this Country's History. If I were to pick one State the approximate vintage of South Carolina, I cannot make a better argument for a single State that was as independently oriented, and that defended its independence from influence outside its borders, and defended it with even greater passion from any Federal influence. To the very present, South Carolina has been expressing the same theme through the issue of what Flag they will fly over their Capital, and who the decision will be made by. A decision was reached, the flag may no longer fly over the Capital, but it shall fly not far from it.

Denmark Vesey's birthplace is unknown contrary to the conflicting commercial reviews. From the book, "It is not confirmable whether Vesey was born in Africa or The West Indies". If there is a consistent thread through the book, it is how much is not known about this man who attempted what would have been a massive Rebellion, Slave in makeup or otherwise composed. This is not to say the book is not well done, quite the contrary. I believe that the documentation achieved by Mr. David Robinson is nothing short of remarkable when the effort to destroy all remnants of the rebellion is considered. The book loses no credibility because we don't know from what tree he was executed, nor where his body was finally buried. These issues are more legend than they will ever be fact, but these issues do not change the heart of the event, and the facts of what took place. Even Mr. Vesey's appearance is unknown except for the most impressionistic of drawings; the man visually is an enigma.

The story as related is brief, 153 pages. But as evidenced by photographs and 40 pages of notes, the Historical detective work was clearly done. The Author presents what he knows, makes very little speculation, and to the extent he does, he places his feelings in a distinct chapter, "A Personal Conclusion".

Staying away from the story so as not to spoil it, there was however an aspect of the South in 1822 that I had never read about in such detail. There were not 2 groups, there were many. Slaves, freed slaves like Mr. Vesey, and very defined and distinct groups among the black and white Communities. The distinctions amongst the people that Vesey wished to lead were the same that lead to his rebellions defeat.

It is necessarily a brief story unless more information comes to light. With the material at hand and the documentation the Author found, I believe he did a very credible job of relating a relatively unknown event in our History.

The question of what would have happened had Vesey succeeded, and the implications on this Country are not to be found in the book, nor do I believe it would be appropriate for such counter-factual debate to be placed in a Historical work. The "what if" scenarios are varied and certainly would have been momentous. However History did not take place as Mr. Vesey planned, and the historical record was systematically destroyed to the extent possible.

What is important is that Denmark Vesey and other leaders like him take their place in our Historical record. Whether positive, negative, or aborted, events like these must be recounted or our History is incomplete.

Rugby has played a prominent role in the history and development of the South African nation, especially since the apartheid years, beginning in 1948. In their book, although lacking concision and clarity, David R. Black and John Nauright amply demonstrate this important theme. White dominance was exceedingly evident during the apartheid years, and rugby, among other sports, was just one avenue by which it was carried out. Black and Nauright begin by laying the foundation of the evident role of sport in culture and politics. Sport has been tied to power in South Africa, and it is no longer possible to separate the worlds of sport and politics.
Rugby was brought to South Africa by the British in the early 1800s. Rugby, among other sports, has since been a dominating force in South African international politics. A strong sense of white superiority was brought with the game of rugby, and the nation has been fighting the effects of the apartheid years through sports as well as other avenues ever since. Black and Nauright also address the chain of events surrounding the international boycott of South African sporting participation and how the nation has since reentered the sporting arena, this positive change beginning with the 1995 Rugby World Cup (RWC).
After the 1995 RWC, South African rugby began to fall apart, and rugby slowly lost some of its power over government policies. Black and Nauright conclude the book with the notion that rugby's role in nation building in South Africa is going to shift and change, but continue to remain an important influence. The authors leave you with somewhat of a sense of finality, tying up much of the confusion from previous chapters.

David Black and John Nauright's Rugby and the South African Nation steps the reader through the history of rugby in South Africa. From the early 1800's until the late 1900's, rugby was brought by the British, developed in their missions and played key roles in the lives of both South African settlers and natives. Black and Nauright did a good job explaining the importance of each major topic on the overall effect of the people and government in South Africa. The use of words that leaves many readers going for the dictionary together with long complicated sentences made it obvious that they wrote this book for the well-educated reader. This book did discuss, as the title suggests, rugby and its role in South Africa.

Black and Nauright start with the history behind white and black rugby in South Africa and how it has helped form the nation. They write in depth on the secret society of the Broederbond as well as the sporting relationship with New Zealand and the Rugby World Cup of 1995. Each of these chapters are well organized individually, however, seem to be awkwardly organized in the overall structure of the book.

This book should not be read for pleasure purposes. It has a depth of information regarding the effects of rugby on the South African Nation that will inform anyone who reads the book. Black and Nauright are sometimes hard to follow, however, seem to know the material and write like their readers have at least a limited knowledge of rugby and the South African Nation. You may spend considerable time re-reading sentences in order to decipher the authors' thoughts.

In their book, David Black and John Nauright delve deep into the roots of sporting history in South Africa - tracing it to its British origins - while also tracing the roots of South Africa's widely-known racist ideologies and exploring their effect on each other through the sport of Rugby. Black and Nauright imply that rugby is one of the most important sports in South Africa, if not the most important, and that sanctions imposed by international sporting organizations on the game had the most deeply-felt effects on the apartheid government.
The first few chapters of the book provide a general history of sports in South Africa and follow the development of rugby. The middle chapters present the meat of apartheid and sport in South Africa, with stories of international sanctions and particular focus on South Africa's relationship with New Zealand and Australia. Writing about the 1995 Rugby World Cup held in South Africa, Black and Nauright make a clear statement that many government efforts at presenting a reformed face to the sporting world were superficial and short lived.
Overall I found the information in the book to be helpful, but hard to swallow at times. The highly academic language was a factor, as well as the sheer volume of information crammed into such a small space. Both factors served to dull an otherwise fascinating topic. The notes at the end of chapters however, were useful, and there is no doubt that the authors presented a well-researched project in their book.

Once again, I state that I've never been an Anderson fan. 'Golden Age of the Sith' had some streong points, like a decent plot and beautiful art. Alas, the art quality drops a bit here and the story goes into a nosedive. There's almost no plot, save for a big battle. Granted, it can be pretty visually complex and interesting, drawing back to an old style of combat, but overall its quite lacking.

I've gotten out a fine-toothed comb, but cannot find any cohesive story, unfortunately. Read it only as a conclusion for 'Golden Age', but don't expect a lot.

This is the conclusion of the Golden Age of the Sith. The Fall is also set 5,000 years before NEW HOPE. While the art work also improves, yes I said improves, the story seems to disintegrate into itself. Since I like some of KJA's work, I am assuming that he was not the lead writer, just placed first alphabetically. Nothing important happens here so don't feel you need to waste your money buying this book, unless you want to buy mine!

This is a cool book that is about the Sith and moast of all Sith Lord Exar Kun.

I have never reviewed a book before but this one is so poor that I thought I should warn people. I bought this book to learn a little bit of black and white portrait lighting techniques and maybe some darkroom or other creative techniques however the images are awful. There are very few pictures in this book that are even in focus. I can tolerate soft focus but these are just bad. There was one image in the book that was o.k. and the photographer even said it was not planned, he just tripped the shutter as the subjects were playing around. The shots that he staged and set up are just terrible. I will stick with getting information and inspiration from "Hollywood Portraits: Classic Shots and How to Take Them" by Roger Hicks and Christopher Nisperos and also "Fine Art Children's Photography: Techniques and Images in Black & White" by Doris Carol Doyle. They both had better information and much better images.

This book does not really teach you anything, and the examples are bad. The pictures that have explanation are terrible, so why woyuld i want to take them? Do yourself a favor, buy another book. The best pictures are just presented, with no technical explanation. I am sure mr. derex is a good photographer, except this is not a good book.

This is a book written for photographers who already have a good knowledge of studio lighting. There is not much instructional material here, but the work is very nice. There also is a good discussion of printing an darkroom techniques by a master printer.

This book contains original covers of the sheet music contained within. Many of the covers portray African-Americans in an extremely racist and derogatory manner. I feel that when material like this is published there must be some introductory material that explains how and why blacks were forced to endure this type of promotion in order to have their work published. The failure to do so makes the book dangerous.

In fact, one who was not as familiar with popular ragtime era composers may be amazed at how many recognizable tunes were written by black composers, even some of the more notorious 'coon songs.' It's not about THE COVERS, and taken in context of the time it was produced, the more enlightened person in the 21st century should recognize that. The great Some Of These Days, the poignant Nobody, the ebullient I'm Just Wild About Harry, and the hysterical Come After Breakfast just begin to speak to the depth of these writers, the few who did get a break in a white-dominated publishing world. In fact, a second collection of the same size would be just as good, and hardly constitute a complete representation of writing skills and styles. And even if you aren't looking for historical value, the entertainment derived from this collection is certainly of the highest order. This book promotes the ACHIEVEMENTS more so than focusing on the negative aspects. So celebrate not just Black history but American history by ordering the book now.