Rewriting African-American History from The Takeaway: Early Edition by feedback@thetakeaway.org (Public Radio International and WNYC Radio)

The telling of history is a monumental task and responsibility that all historians hold sacred. Historian Thomas C. Holt has gained prominence as the one of the foremost respected historians of American and African-American History. Holt says in his new book, "Children of Fire: A History of Afircan Americans," he tried to build the history around a number of critical historical figures, begining with a 17th century slave who managed to gain freedom from slavery all the way through to the 21st century. He says the common thread throughout the book is following individulas who belonged and claimed their belonging in America.

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