Thisentirelyneweditionofafamousclassichasgloriousnewphotographs--manyneverbeforeseen--aswellasrevisedandexpandedtextthatdeepensourunderstandingofthevitalroleplayedbyAfricanAmericanmenandwomenonAmerica’searlyfrontiers.ThisrevisedvolumeincludesanexcitingnewchapterontheCivilWarandtheexperiencesofAfricanAmericansonthewesternfrontier.AmongitsfascinatingaccountsarethoseexplaininghowthousandsofenslavedpeopleinArkansas,MissouriandTexassuccessfullyescapedintotheneighboringIndianTerritoryinOklahoma.TheserunawaysinspiredtheideaeventuallyadoptedastheEmancipationProclamation,whichfreedslaveswithinthestatesthatwereinrebellion.InspiredbyaconversationthatWilliamLorenKatzhadwithLangstonHughes,TheBlackWestpresentslong-neglectedstoriesofdaringpioneerslikeNatLove,a.k.a.DeadwoodDick;MaryFields,a.k.a.StagecoachMary;CranfordGoldsby,a.k.a.CherokeeBill--andahostofotherintrepidmenandwomenwhomarchedintothewildernessalongsideChiefOsceola,BillytheKid,andGeronimo.
