Black America, in Letters

For many of us, our knowledge of black American letter-writing stops there. Now, from dusty shelves and old shoeboxes, a groundbreaking new collection breathes life into the full range of African-American experience, in the letters of slaves and statesmen, poets and lovers, and just ordinary folks, across three centuries. From slavery, war, and civil rights struggles, to intimate, private lives.

This hour, On Point: The living history of black America, in letters.

You can join the conversation. What do you hear in personal letters that you don’t get from the history books? Is your own family’s story told in letters? In these letters?Guests:

Joining us from New York is Pamela Newkirk, associate professor of journalism at New York University and editor of the new volume, "Letters from Black America."  Her previous books are "Within the Veil: Black Journalists, White Media," and "A Love No Less: More Than Two Centuries of African American Love Letters."
Read Pamela Newkirk's introduction to the volume.

Also from New York, we're joined by David Levering Lewis, professor of history at New York University and Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer of W.E.B. Du Bois. A 1963 letter he received from his mother is published in "Letters from Black America." His latest book, out in paperback, is "God’s Crucible: Islam and the Making of Europe, 570-1215."

More links:

Here's Alice Walker's open letter to Barack Obama, which she read on DemocracyNow! in November.

The text of Benjamin Banneker's letter to Thomas Jefferson is online at PBS.org.

Following is the 1858 letter from Abream Scriven to Dinah Jones:

New Orleans, Louisiana
September 19, 1858

My Dear Wife.

I take the pleasure of writing you these few with much regret to inform you than I am sold to a man by the name of Peterson [a trader] and stay in New Orleans. I am here yet. But I expect to go before long but when I get there I will write you and let you know where I am. My Dear I want to send you some things but I don't know who to send them by but I will try to get them to you and my children. Give my love to my father and mother and tell them good Bye for me and if we shall not meet in this world I hope to meet in heaven. My dear wife for you and my children my pen cannot express the griffe I feel to be parted from you all. I remain your truly husband until death.

Abream Scriven