As the book discusses the fate of the black college, or the Harlem Renaissance, or the participation of African-American intellectuals in government during World War II, it draws a sharp picture of the fate of blacks with brains, forced, whatever their real interests, to deal with the question of race.
The book discusses the events that have transpired in black history between the civil war era and current-day affairs. 
mnli hypothesis: The book discusses the events that have transpired in black history between the civil war era and current-day affairs.  premise: As the book discusses the fate of the black college, or the Harlem Renaissance, or the participation of African-American intellectuals in government during World War II, it draws a sharp picture of the fate of blacks with brains, forced, whatever their real interests, to deal with the question of race.