logo

73 pages 2 hours read

Four Hundred Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2021

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Keisha N. Blain, ed., Ibram X. Kendi, ed.

Four Hundred Souls

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2021
Book Details
Pages

736

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

United States • 1619-2019

Publication Year

2021

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Four Hundred Souls, edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, comprises 90 essays and ten poems by 80 Black writers, chronicling African American history from 1619 to 2019 in ten parts, each covering 40 years. The writers reflect on significant events and periods, including housing discrimination, the Middle Passage, colonial laws, and civil rights movements, using a choral approach to create a unified narrative of Black resilience and perseverance.

Informative

Emotional

Contemplative

Challenging

Unnerving

Reviews & Readership

4.7

16,748 ratings

95%

Loved it

4%

Mixed feelings

1%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Four Hundred Souls, edited by Keisha N. Blain and Ibram X. Kendi, is lauded for its diverse voices and comprehensive exploration of African American history. Critics praise its rich, multifaceted narrative and scholarly rigor. However, some note its dense content can be overwhelming. Overall, it's an essential, enlightening read that skillfully blends historical and contemporary perspectives.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Four Hundred Souls?

Readers who appreciate Four Hundred Souls, edited by Keisha N. Blain and Ibram X. Kendi, are often drawn to deeply researched, multi-perspective historical accounts. Fans of The 1619 Project or Stamped from the Beginning will find this a compelling exploration of African American history through diverse voices.

4.7

16,748 ratings

95%

Loved it

4%

Mixed feelings

1%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

736

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

United States • 1619-2019

Publication Year

2021

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.