Includes bibliographical references (p. 240-246) and index.

Ancient fires: Still lighting the way -- Capture the flickering image: Early black moviemaking -- Versatile film pioneer -- Shining image of black womanhood -- Defying expectations -- Stellar achievers behind the scenes -- Different viewpoint -- Roots of American music: Black minstrelsry: Tainted legacy -- Ladies sing the blues -- Prodigious Mr. Waller -- Scat: Wordless lyrics of jazz singing -- Going downtown to "the street" -- Breakthrough balladeers -- Black pedigree of white rock 'n' roll -- Prophet of free jazz -- Black songwriters: Poets of musical note -- Queen Aretha -- Producers of the popular sounds -- Voices sweet and strong -- With pen in hand: Waging war with words -- Tradition of crusading newspapers -- Lure of France -- Invisible man -- Tireless voice for change -- Bridging art and politics -- Playwright and his century -- Nobel laureate in literature -- Continuing the oral tradition -- Visual arts: Bounty from gifted hands: Legacy of skill -- Master of the landscape genre -- Pioneering Goodridge brothers -- Marvels of the untrained eye -- Creative chronicler of Harlem life -- Enduring vision of Jacob Lawrence -- Art in the service of her people -- Robert Blackburn's labor of love -- Showcase for black artists -- Art of everyday -- Acknowledgments -- Picture credits -- Bibliography -- Index.

Richly illustrated survey of the key role played by African Americans in shaping American society. This three-book set combines the renowned text and picture research of Time-Life with creative talents of African American scholars, writers, and artists.