The Credos of Eight Black Leaders

Professor Ansbro has succeeded in making the ideas of these leaders come alive. The theme of 'the power of the negative,' that exemplifies the Hegelian dialectic, is a unifying principle for this fine book. -- Howard Zinn, author of A People's History of the United States and professor emeritus of Political Science, Boston University
Dr. Ansbro is a creative interpreter of the black religious experience. The selection of these leaders is first rate. Converting Obstacles into Opportunities—'the power of the negative'—is an apt description of what oppressed people have to do if they are not going to be primarily defined by their oppressors. I strongly recommend this excellent book. -- James H. Cone, Distinguished Professor of Theology, Union Theological Seminary
Dr. John Ansbro has written in the first person the most informative and inspiring exposition of the social philosophies of the principal African-American and African activists of the last 200 years. This is a pioneering work because it formulates their principles in the form of credos and identifies more than 500 examples of how they creatively utilized their negative experiences to achieve personal and social objectives. He demonstrates that in their opposition to racism in the forms of slavery, segregation or apartheid, they all struggled for Constitutional rights. Dr. Ansbro has rendered a tremendous service to African-Americans by presenting in a single volume the liberating philosophies that helped preserve peace until the writings of Jefferson, Madison, and Franklin could be translated into substantial action. -- Rev. Lawrence E. Carter, Dean of the International Chapel, Professor of Religion, Morehouse College