Unsung

A groundbreaking collection of abolitionist writing from throughout the history of American slavery

From the beginning of the transatlantic slave trade to the ambiguity of the reconstruction era, resistance and protest writing were a central part of slavery in America, and - ultimately - played a crucial role in its abolition. Placing well-known abolitionist writing alongside less celebrated and little-known accounts of everyday lives and activism, Unsung makes the case for focusing on the histories of black people as agents and architects of their own struggle and ultimate liberation.

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“As comprehensive a collection as now exists and one that should be required reading in history and literature courses.”
—Kirkus, starred review

“Remarkable anthology...As a whole, this collection showcases the vastness of Black thinking and writing, and nicely complements works by Martha S. Jones and Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers. Complete with a list of suggestions for further reading, this winning anthology is a must for all interested in Black history, but unsure where to start.”
—Library Journal, starred review

“This anthology highlights the overlooked role that enslaved people played in emancipation.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“The song sung in these pages is not solely an aria to agency or a tragic chorus about limits; it is both. It perseveres in the mission described in Arturo Schomburg’s 'The Negro Digs Up His Past' as excavating history to 'restore what slavery took away.' It shouts against the silencing alluded to in the Unsung title. Like the Harlem Renaissance and the Schomburg Center, Unsung is a work of both history and art.” 
—Washington Post