Our Souls to Keep:

In this personal and practical look at black/white relations in the United States, Dr. George Henderson examines differences between blacks and whites from a cross-cultural perspective. Written for white Americans, the goal of Our Souls to Keep: Black/White Relations in America is not to belabor the problems of race but rather to discuss the impact of these differences and offer suggestions for dealing with them effectively.Our Souls to Keep is an excellent text for use in African American studies courses, sociology and anthropology courses with a component on black/white race and ethnic relations, and diversity training programs designed specifically to reduce racism and prejudice. It's an essential resource for teachers, students, businesspeople, and anyone committed to coming to grips with racism and its effects in the United States. With candor, balance, and the wisdom that comes only with experience, George Henderson reaches out to whites and calls us to cross the racial divide. I highly recommend Our Souls to Keep for any sensitive white reader willing to take up that challenge. -Morris Dees, Southern Poverty Law Center Contents Preface Acknowledgments Introduction Part I: Black History and Culture 1 Traditional African American Culture 2 Search for Identity: A Dream Deferred 3 Talking Black, Thinking Black: Communication and Values Part II: Community, School, and Workplace 4 Black Communities and the Perils of Segregation 5 Teaching Black Children 6 Supervising Black Workers Part III. Conclusion 7 Black and White Together Afterword: The Middle Passage: Autobiographical Continuation References Recommended Readings Index