With coverage spanning the arrival in Virginia in 1619 of the first slaves from Africa to the election of Douglas Wilder as the first African American governor of that state, this set provides a fascinating survey of both the contributions to and the problems of blacks in American society. The 2,300 signed entries treat North America only. There are entries for all 50 states and major cities such as Chicago and Detroit, plus survey articles on Canada and Mexico.
Articles treat individual black publications and each of the historically black colleges.
There are entries highlighting the participation of blacks in all the major Christian denominations and Islam. Such entries as Black Business Community , Black Identity , Jim Crow , Kwanza , and Passing treat topics unique to African Americans. Entries on more general topics, such as Birth Control , Banking , Class and Society , Suburbanization , and Television , highlight black perspectives. The nine-page entry Advertising , for example, describes the history of advertising to African Americans and the use of African Americans in advertising aimed at whites. Entries are here for laws, court cases, and for labor unions.