Review by Choice Review
In writing this first major treatment of the 1960s African American student movement, emerging African American historian Bradley (Saint Louis Univ.) makes use of sources that were not available until recently. The four opening chapters chronicle the roots of black resentment in Harlem of Columbia University. Harlem residents viewed Columbia's purchase of neighborhood land near the university for its own purposes as a symbol of white power to discriminate against blacks and break up black neighborhoods. In spring 1968, Harlemites joined Columbia students to oppose construction of a gymnasium on public land in Morningside Park. Before order returned, minority students had occupied several university buildings, forced major changes in curriculum, weakened the historic order of trustee administrative control, and threatened academic freedom. The book's second half compares events at Columbia with those at other landlocked urban Ivies. It also shows how minority radicals, in shifting to focus on black power, isolated themselves from a broader radicalism embodied in the Students for a Democratic Society. Useful as a reference, the book's reliance on black power cliches, stereotyping, poor writing, and worse editing limit its value. Summing Up: Optional. Comprehensive collections. D. Steeples formerly, Mercer University
Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
Review by Choice Review
