Black Genius - by Dick Russell (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Intimate, in-depth portraits, interviews, and essays of America's black leaders--from the founding of the nation and Frederick Douglass to the 2008 presidential race and Barack Obama. Each figure is interconnected with the next, exploring themes of family and intergenerational community, spirituality, and diligence, activism, and struggle. These remarkable portraits reveal the true spirit of the American pioneers who forged much of the heart of this nation, but whose achievements have been largely overlooked.

New York Times bestselling author Dick Russell examines the lives of musicians, civil rights leaders, philosophers, writers, and actors including Duke Ellington, Will Marion Cook, Louis Armstrong, Wynton Marsalis, Albert Murray, Ralph Ellison, Toni Morrison, and Romare Bearden. Concluding with a list of sources and suggested reading, this fascinating and vibrant look at American history is a must for any collection.

About the Author

Dick Russell is the author of thirteen books, including four New York Times best-sellers with former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura. A veteran investigative journalist, his Eye of the Whale was named a "Best Book of the Year" by three major newspapers. Splitting his time between Boston, Massachusetts, and Los Angeles, California, Russell's most recent published work is Climate In Crisis with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.