IN THEIR OWN WORDS

This is the second in this chronologically arranged collection of source materials about the Negro in this country (the first volume was reviewed in 1964, p. 1018, J-332). It puts the current civil rights struggle into perspective. Much of this book consists of first hand reactions to Reconstruction. Many of these comments sound like echoes of the present; many also indicate how sources of controversy have developed which could have been avoided. The idea that Reconstruction was a period of "Negro rule" is particularly disputed by the editor, and he has chosen a number of selections to back up this point. The articles included here are all very readable, revealing, and act together to develop a current of history. As before, there are introductory comments, index, reading list.