Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence: The Story of New York's African Burial Ground

by Joyce Hansen and Gary McGowan

Book Overview

How can we learn about the lives of African slaves in Colonial America? Often forbidden to read or write, they left few written records. But in 1991 scientists rediscovered New York's long-ignored... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805050124
• ISBN13: 9780805050127
• Release Date: April 1998
• Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
• Length: 130 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.7" x 9.3"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Brings African-American history to life

Don't let the fact that this is a kids book keep you from reading it. It's a well-written history of lower Manhattan that goes beyond facts and dates and connects the people of today with the people of 300 years ago so well that they seem like they could live in your neighborhood. Yet, it doesn't just portray the people, but also the politics and the society in a very understandable way. The farther we get from the days of slavery, the harder it is for us to understand. How could people own people and people submit to being owned? What was life like for slaves and owners? How did racial discrimination start? This book helps us understand. Very well done!

Fabulous book! For adults as well as kids!

Great book! Yes, archaeology in NYC! Although this book is listed as a young readers book, I found it a facinating read for adults interested in this subject area of archaeology and black history. I have never found such a great book that combines both the history of a people that few books are written on with a modern day archaeological dig. Great resource for teachers, black history month and just for those of us out there who are facinated with archaeology.

Great Book!

This book wonderfully encompasses a vast wealth of knowledge. Archaeology, history, current events, and modern day issues are just a few things. This book is extremely well written from the introduction, to the archeological dig, to an epilogue that summarized the issues behind the dig. I found it very informative about the history of African Americans during colonial times. I also thought that it was informative on the procedures followed for archeological digs. I really got a feel for the climate, attitudes, and living of African Americans during their first years in America. I would definitely use this book in a classroom study of the early Americans. It presents an alternate view than the pioneering white male view commonly seen during these times. The many pictures are graphic, well-taken and very interesting.

Interesting and factual data about a people of long ago

Breaking Ground, Breaking Silence was perhaps not one of the most interesting books I have ever read, but it is definitely one of the most haunting. When the book first starts out, the reader has no idea that what is beneath centuries of asphalt are people long ago and long forgotten. The most wonderful thing about the book was the way researchers were able to construct the lives of those found. I thought going back in the past and intricately constructing their journeys and lives was incredible. I also enjoyed, for lack of a better word, the photographs. Perhaps the most haunting was the one of mother and child. I felt sorrow and pity for those who had to endure such hardships, but who willed something better for themselves and those who followed. Their lives should be recorded and the place where they were buried should be sacred. I don't know how many students will enjoy this as pleasure reading, unless they enjoy finding artifacts, but I am positive no media center should be without this resource. Kids should have at least exposure with this book to know it is out there. It would be a fantastic reference and addition to any collection. These lives should be celebrated and honored. They, I feel, deserve at least that as a payment for a price so dearly paid by many ancestors.

great book

This was a great book. If you have not ordered it yet, Order it! When I started reading this book I was not intrested in archology. It is still not my favorite thing. It was a facinating story. thats why I liked it.It taught me stuff about the revolutiary war and slavary.READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!