Overview

Philanthropy is typically considered to be within the province of billionaires. This book broadens that perspective by highlighting modest acts of giving by African Americans on behalf of their own people. Examining the important tradition of Black philanthropy, this groundbreaking work documents its history: its beginning as a response to discrimination through self-help among freed slaves, and its expansion to include the support of education, religion, the arts, and legal efforts on behalf of civil rights. Using diverse approaches, the authors illuminate a new world of philanthropy - one that will be of interest to scholars and students alike. Chapters review the contributions of such major figures as Booker T. Washington and Thurgood Marshall, and discuss the often-surprising practices and methods of contemporary African American donors.

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9780820474755

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Reviews

'Uplifting a People' is an important contribution to the ongoing study of African American philanthropy. The book documents how both individual African Americans and their institutions have given their time, talent, and money to create opportunities, often where none existed. It is essential reading for anyone interested in learning more about African American philanthropy. (Emmett D. Carson, President and CEO, The Minneapolis Foundation and Author of 'A Hand Up: Black Philanthropy and Self Help in America') These essays not only educate but challenge older perceptions of philanthropy. Informed by fresh research and disciplined analysis, they offer valuable new insights on key aspects of an important and often neglected topic. As a whole, they illuminate the many ways in which various expressions of African American philanthropy have been a form of agency that addressed the needs of a disadvantaged group; frequently influenced the giving and thinking of those who exercised power through their ability to bestow gifts of money, time, and ideas; and profoundly shaped social policy and social thought in the United States. (Alfred A. Moss, Jr., Associate Professor of History, University of Maryland, College Park and Co-author of 'From Slavery to Freedom: A History of African Americans')

Author Information

The Editors: Marybeth Gasman is Assistant Professor in the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. She received her Ph.D. from Indiana University in higher education. In addition to numerous articles in scholarly journals, she is author of Charles S. Johnson: Leadership behind the Veil in the Age of Jim Crow (with Patrick J. Gilpin) and Fund Raising from Black College Alumni: Successful Strategies for Supporting Alma Mater (with Sibby Anderson-Thompkins). Katherine V. Sedgwick is a Ph.D. student at the University of Pennsylvania. Her research interests include the history of higher education, particularly pluralism, educational mission, and small, liberal arts colleges.

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