Rising Wind - by Brenda Gayle Plummer (Paperback)

About the Book

Rising Wind: Black Americans and U.S. Foreign Affairs, 1935-1960

Book Synopsis

African Americans have a long history of active involvement and interest in international affairs, but their efforts have been largely ignored by scholars of American foreign policy. Gayle Plummer brings a new perspective to the study of twentieth-century American history with her analysis of black Americans' engagement with international issues, from the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 through the wave of African independence movements of the early 1960s.

Plummer first examines how collective definitions of ethnic identity, race, and racism have influenced African American views on foreign affairs. She then probes specific developments in the international arena that galvanized the black community, including the rise of fascism, World War II, the emergence of human rights as a factor in international law, the Cold War, and the American civil rights movement, which had important foreign policy implications. However, she demonstrates that not all African Americans held the same views on particular issues and that a variety of considerations helped shape foreign affairs agendas within the black community just as in American society at large.

From the Back Cover

Brenda Gayle Plummer brings a new perspective to the study of twentieth-century American history with her analysis of black Americans' engagement with international issues, from the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 through the wave of African independence movements of the early 1960s. Plummer first examines how collective definitions of ethnic identity, race, and racism have influenced African American views on foreign affairs. She then probes specific developments in the international arena that galvanized the black community, including the rise of fascism, World War II, the emergence of human rights as a factor in international law, the Cold War, and the American civil rights movement, which had important foreign policy implications. However, she demonstrates that not all African Americans held the same views on particular issues and that a variety of considerations helped shape foreign affairs agendas within the black community just as in American society at large.

Review Quotes

The quantity and quality of Brenda Gayle Plummer s research and the sophistication and detail of her argument are especially impressive.

"American Historical Review"

The quantity and quality of Brenda Gayle Plummer 's research and the sophistication and detail of her argument are especially impressive.

"American Historical Review"

The quantity and quality of Brenda Gayle Plummer_s research and the sophistication and detail of her argument are especially impressive.

"American Historical Review"

The quantity and quality of Brenda Gayle Plummera[s research and the sophistication and detail of her argument are especially impressive.

"American Historical Review"

ÝA¨ brilliant and perceptive study.

"Journal of American History"

A splendidly researched, beautifully written, and carefully argued exploration into the important connections between race and U.S. foreign policy.

George Lipsitz, University of California, San Diego

The quantity and quality of Brenda Gayle Plummers research and the sophistication and detail of her argument are especially impressive.

"American Historical Review"

"A splendidly researched, beautifully written, and carefully argued exploration into the important connections between race and U.S. foreign policy.

George Lipsitz, University of California, San Diego"

[A] brilliant and perceptive study.

"Journal of American History"

Plummer's conceptual view is first rate.

"Choice"

The quantity and quality of Brenda Gayle PlummerUs research and the sophistication and detail of her argument are especially impressive.

"American Historical Review"

This is an impressive book.

"International History Review"

About the Author

Brenda Gayle Plummer, professor of history and Afro-American studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, is author of Haiti and the Great Powers and Haiti, the Psychological Moment.