Rating: 
Summary: This book should be on every bookshelf in America
Review: As a graduate of Howard University, this text was used in several disciplines on the campus and I still refer to this book in my personal search of correcting some of the inaccuracies that I was fed as a child. Dr. Franklin offers complete and accurate accounts of the real story, not his-story! This book is in no way a revisionary or revolutionary work for the militant black individual as previous reviews may lead you to believe. In fact, compare this work with your average high school history text, research the events (thoroughly) and determine its validity and accuracy on your own. It is imperative to research -- don't just take what is given to you as fact! You will be amazed of the overwhelming evidence that Dr. Franklin provides that has been omitted in many American high school textbooks. Every child, especially those of African descent, should have the opportunity to receive the information that Dr. Franklin has so eloquently and chronologically written in this book. This is truly a must-read!
Rating: 
Summary: Good for high school students, bad for experienced thinkers.
Review: Dr. Franklin is one of the greatest historians this country has ever produced. He holds degrees from Fisk and Harvard (two post graduate degrees from Cambridge). He has more honorary degrees than Carter has little pills (or I guess now, peanuts). This work, now in its eighth printing, is perhaps the greatest single reference work exploring the African American experience and the contributions of this race to American history, and has been so since the first edition was printed in 1947. He starts by revealing more knowledge that most people ever fathomed about the African experience in the pre-slavery centuries, with the greatness that was the African continent in Ghana, Songhay and the rest of Africa. The exploration of the "peculiar institution" of slavery, reconstruction and the post Civil War hope is complete and brilliantly done. The chapters on the Harlem Renaissance and the first half of the twentieth century alone is worth the price of the book. Extraordinarily well researched. It is scholarly but never dry. It is objective, but never loses the passion for the subject. A must for any complete understanding of our history.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant scholarly work
Review: Dr. Franklin is one of the greatest historians this country has ever produced. He holds degrees from Fisk and Harvard (two post graduate degrees from Cambridge). He has more honorary degrees than Carter has little pills (or I guess now, peanuts). This work, now in its eighth printing, is perhaps the greatest single reference work exploring the African American experience and the contributions of this race to American history, and has been so since the first edition was printed in 1947. He starts by revealing more knowledge that most people ever fathomed about the African experience in the pre-slavery centuries, with the greatness that was the African continent in Ghana, Songhay and the rest of Africa. The exploration of the "peculiar institution" of slavery, reconstruction and the post Civil War hope is complete and brilliantly done. The chapters on the Harlem Renaissance and the first half of the twentieth century alone is worth the price of the book. Extraordinarily well researched. It is scholarly but never dry. It is objective, but never loses the passion for the subject. A must for any complete understanding of our history.
Rating:
Summary: A phenomenal piece of work
Review: Franklin tells the story of the enslavement of millions of Africans with heart and objectivity. While originally published a couple of decades ago this is a work that is rightfully considered a classic. Indeed, as a historian Franklin has done that rarest of deeds, i.e. create an analysis of the past that is timeless. The only fault of this work is that his portrayal of the conflicts of recent times is a bit lightweight. But as someone with a degree in History I don't feel that you will have a good grasp on the slave question unless you read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Disappointing
Review: I ordered this book to learn more about the origins of slavery and how the system worked (I consider myself relatively ignorant on this subject). This book did give me more insight into this issue, but overall I was disappointed.
Now, I read the book a year ago, and then I gave it away, so if I am wrong about any of the following complaints, please let me know.
First, I don't recall seeing any footnotes or endnotes that the authors used to verify their facts/opinions. Other books on history I have read have generally been filled with footnotes explaining where they got their facts from, but in this book, it seems that the reader is just supposed to trust the author.
(Again, I don't have the book with me now, so if I am wrong, please feel free to correct me.) Second, the book seemed to contain a lot of subjective opinions from the authors, which I generally dislike in a history book. For example, I would rather have the authors quoting someone saying "This person is a very influential artist" rather than just stating it as a universal fact. Third, I found the book rather dull. It seemed to focus a lot on individuals and their achievments (the word "cheerleading" comes to mind). I was looking for something with more hard facts and figures I guess. After I bought this book, I realized that it was probably a high school text, so maybe the author's main purpose in writing the book was not to entertain the reader. It might seem strange that I'm writing a review based on my imperfect memory. It's just that this book seemed to be so perfect for what I wanted (most of the reviews were very positive), yet I found the way it was written so disappointing. There is a lot of information in the book, but I feel it was presented in an unsatisfactory way.
Rating:
Summary: Good for high school students, bad for experienced thinkers.
Review: I returned this book. However, I am a voracious reader of history and appreciate specifically history that is framed to present periods and events with meaning and drama. Great writers of history can capture these elements in the topcs they cover via a combination of skill, enthusiasm and knowledge. This book does not rise to that level. Perhaps the authors did not intend it to.
Good book for a basic introduction to Black folks' history but not sufficient to satisfy the appetites of experienced, critical lay-thinkers.
Rating:
Summary: very objective, indeed.
Review: Intellectual, straight-forward, candid and objective-"From Slavery to Freedom" gives the actual picture of how African-Americans have been treated and where they stand in American History. An honest journey into history- well-researched. Thanks Franklin. History is important. But "we shall rise".
Rating:
Summary: Great Book on the History of African-Americans
Review: This book brought into life the history of a group of Americans that has been long neglected, in the standard American textbooks. This book was easy to read and follows the course of American history, from discovery to the Clinton presidency. A must for all persons who are interested in history. Not just African-American history, but American history. Get it, it is worth having, if you call yourself an historian.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book on the History of African-Americans
Review: This book brought into life the history of a group of Americans that has been long neglected, in the standard American textbooks. This book was easy to read and follows the course of American history, from discovery to the Clinton presidency. A must for all persons who are interested in history. Not just African-American history, but American history. Get it, it is worth having, if you call yourself an historian.
Rating:
Summary: Franklin, one of America's Greatest Historians
Review: This book is the product of outstanding research produced by an internationally recognized historian, John Hope Franklin. Don't believe me and the other reviewers? Act like a historian and check out Duke University's website; read reviews of Franklin's work in the major journals of professional historians; and do this with an open mind, while trying to discover and weigh in against your own biases. The history of African Americans in the United States simply can't be told without discussing racism as a structure that many white people built through law, social segregation, economic practices, intimidation, and accepting the privileges of "the way things were done." _If_ you do _not_ want to learn about America in this light, if you want to close your mind to reality, do not read this book. But even if the idea of facing these ugly truths may tug at your soul a bit, there is so much more in this book. In a very readable, comprehensive, illustrated work, you can learn about men and women who worked, wrote, taught, served, healed, created, protested, died, dreamed, played, and were just human in every other imaginable way in America. If this is what you are looking for, read on.
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