Black Eden: The Idlewild Community (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9780870136221)

Black Eden chronicles the history of Idlewild, a Michigan black community founded during the aftermath of the Civil War. As one of the nation's most popular black resorts, Idlewild functioned as a gathering place for African Americans, and more importantly as a touchstone of black identity and culture. Benjamin C. Wilson and Lewis Walker examine Idlewild's significance within a historical context, as well as the town's revitalization efforts and the need for comprehensive planning in future development. In a segregated America, Idlewild became a place where black audiences could see rising black entertainers. Profusely illustrated with photos from the authors' personal collections, Black Eden provides a lengthy discussion about the crucial role that Idlewild played in the careers of artists such as Louis Armstrong, B. B. King, Sammy Davis Jr., Jackie Wilson, Aretha Franklin, and Della Reese. Fundamentally, the book explores issues involved in living in a segregated society, the consequences of the civil rights movement, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and subsequent integration, and the consequences of integration vs. racial solidarity. The authors ask: Did integration kill Idlewild?, suggesting rather that other factors contributed to its decline.

Author: Lewis Walker, Benjamin C. Wilson
ISBN-10: 0870136224
ISBN-13: 9780870136221
Publisher: Michigan State University Press
Language: English
Published: 02/28/2002
Pages: 269
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.35lbs
Size: 9.98h x 5.80w x 0.98d
Award: Michigan Notable Books - Winner

Review Citation(s):
Foreword 07/01/2002 pg. 58
Choice 10/01/2002 pg. 344
Univ PR Books for Public Libry 01/01/2003 pg. 67 - Recommended/Regional General