A Nation under Our Feet: Black Political Struggles in the Rural South from Slavery to the Great Migration by Steven Hahn

"A Nation under Our Feet: Black Political Struggles in the Rural South from Slavery to the Great Migration" by Steven Hahn is an enlightening and thought-provoking book that examines the political and social landscape of African Americans from the time of slavery to the Great Migration. This book provides insight into the struggles African Americans faced and the progress they made in their fight for freedom and social justice.

The book begins with an exploration of the development of South before the Civil War and how slavery caused African Americans to develop unique strategies to maintain autonomy and self-sufficiency in spite of the oppressive system. Hahn also discusses how African Americans challenged the power structure by forming alternative institutions and how they utilized networks to create and sustain their own communities. Additionally, he chronicles the important role of African American churches and other organizations during this period and how they provided a platform for social mobilization and revolt against the oppressive systems of white supremacy.

The second part of the book examines how African Americans used a combination of legal and extra-legal means to challenge white dominance and secure access to justice, property, liberties, and civil rights. This includes detailed accounts of civil disobedience and grassroots movements that fought against lynching, segregation and disfranchisement. Additionally, Hahn covers the role of black leadership during this period and how the Great Migration decreased the dependence African Americans had on the rural south but increased their economic opportunities in the north and west.

Finally, the third part of the book focuses on the impact of the Great Migration and how African Americans in the urban north, Midwest and West faced new challenges. This includes an examination of how segregationist practices were enforced in some areas, how migrants were able to establish self-sustaining communities, as well as how African Americans used education and voter registration drives to consolidate their political power and gain equal rights.

Overall, "A Nation under Our Feet" is an important contribution to scholarship on African American history and politics in the rural South and provides an invaluable resource to those wishing to understand and study the political struggles of African Americans from the end of slavery to the Great Migration. With insightful analysis and compelling stories, Hahn paints a vivid picture of a people and a nation determined to overcome overwhelming odds and create a better future for themselves and for generations to come.