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First is an overview of the history of African American art--which in this country predates the Civil War--and a detailed explanation of the raison detre behind the Cosby collection. Part 2 discusses five prominent postcolonial African American artists who lead the way for future black artists and the struggles they overcame to promote cultural emancipation and acceptance in the American mainstream.

Subsequent parts reveal how African American artists continued the quest for recognition, culminating in the turning point of black culture in the twentieth century in the United States: The Harlem Renaissance. Throughout the discussions within each of the books six parts, beautiful full-color artworks from the Cosby collection highlight and validate Driskells writing. Rene Hankss biographies add even more information about the featured artists as well as indicate the locations of the major collections of their works.