Four Hundred Souls

A Community History of African America, 1619-2019

By: Ibram X. Kendi - editor, Keisha N. Blain - editor

Narrated by: full cast

Length: 14 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

A chorus of extraordinary voices comes together to tell one of history’s great epics: the 400-year journey of African Americans from 1619 to the present - edited by Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an Antiracist, and Keisha N. Blain, author of Set the World on Fire.

The story begins in 1619 - a year before the Mayflower - when the White Lion disgorges “some 20-and-odd Negroes” onto the shores of Virginia, inaugurating the African presence in what would become the United States. It takes us to the present, when African Americans, descendants of those on the White Lion and a thousand other routes to this country, continue a journey defined by inhuman oppression, visionary struggles, stunning achievements, and millions of ordinary lives passing through extraordinary history.

Four Hundred Souls is a unique one-volume “community” history of African Americans. The editors, Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain, have assembled ninety brilliant writers, each of whom takes on a five-year period of that four-hundred-year span. The writers explore their periods through a variety of techniques: historical essays, short stories, personal vignettes, and fiery polemics. They approach history from various perspectives: through the eyes of towering historical icons or the untold stories of ordinary people; through places, laws, and objects. While themes of resistance and struggle, of hope and reinvention, course through the book, this collection of diverse pieces from ninety different minds, reflecting ninety different perspectives, fundamentally deconstructs the idea that Africans in America are a monolith - instead it unlocks the startling range of experiences and ideas that have always existed within the community of Blackness.

This is a history that illuminates our past and gives us new ways of thinking about our future, written by the most vital and essential voices of our present.

Read by a full cast, including:

Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Amir Abdullah, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Kristen Ariza, Dashawn Barnes, Joshua Bennett, Quincy Tyler Bernstine, Andre Blake, Torian Brackett, Donte Bonner, Mahogany L. Browne, Ron Butler, Kellie Carter-Jackson, Brianna Collette, Karen Chilton, Sean Crisden, Keith David, Angela Y. Davis, William DeMeritt, Leonard Dozier, Robin Eller, Kevin R. Free, James Fouhey, Alicia Garza, Dion Graham, Danai Gurira, Jerome Harmann-Hardeman, Jamal Henderson, Ethan Herisse, Susan Heyward, Cary Hite, Dominic Hoffman, Sherrilyn Ifill, James Monroe Iglehart, JD Jackson, Zainab Jah, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Sullivan Jones, Peter Francis James, Terrence Kidd, January LaVoy, Adam Lazarre-White, Keylor Leigh, Nicole Lewis, Dennis Logan, Chante McCormick, Desmond Manny, Jesus Martinez, Heather McGhee, Sheryl Mebane, Robin Miles, Karen Murray, Soneela Nankani, Leon Nixon, Soledad O’Brien, Leslie Odom, Jr., Adenrele Ojo, Genesis Oliver, Prentice Onayemi, Tovah Ott, Morgan Parker, Imani Parks, Lisa Renee Pitts, Imani Jade Powers, Rhett Samuel Price, Bill Quinn, Phylicia Rashad, David Sadzin, Joshua David Scarlett, Heather Alicia Simms, Shayna Small, Patricia Smith, Marisha Tapera, Tashi Thomas, Damian Thompson, TL Thompson, Ella Turenne, Bahni Turpin, Anita Welch, Jade Wheeler, Samira Wiley, Zenzi Williams, Mirron Willis, Andia Winslow, Kai Wright, and with co-editors Ibram X. Kendi, and Keisha N. Blain

©2021 Respective authors of all material within (P)2021 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“The authors, each in their individual voice, raise a Black chorus, demystify racial assumptions, connect the dots of law and jurisprudence, lay the unspoken cultural truths bare, look at the engineering of the foundational aspects of institutional racism and show an America ashamed of its history. . . . Feel the endurance and resilience of how Blacks resisted, revolted, organized, demanded, protested and rebelled. Feel the joy in the absurdity of remaining American in the face of such obstacles.” (George McCalman, San Francisco Chronicle)

“This collection teaches us that nothing about the latest crisis is new - that for four hundred years, Americans have whistled a ‘Yankee Doodle Dandy’ tune of national self-congratulation while reliving repeating cycles of racial violence and hypocrisy. . . . This project is a vital addition to that curriculum on race in America and should serve as a gateway to the solo works of all the voices in Kendi and Blain’s impressive choir.” (The Washington Post)

“Two leading scholars of Black culture gather writers from across genres in this provocative, stirring anthology on the traumas and triumphs of African Americans across four centuries. From journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones on Jamestown’s first slaves to historian Annette Gordon-Reed’s portrait of Sally Hemings to the seductive cadences of poets Jericho Brown and Patricia Smith, Four Hundred Souls weaves a tapestry of unspeakable suffering and unexpected transcendence.” (O: The Oprah Magazine, “20 of the Best Books of February 2021 to Fall in Love With”)

Powerful. Simply powerful

This isn’t so much a book as a Historical Experience that I can’t stop listening to. Do yourselves a favor and get this audiobook. Why the audiobook and not the printed? You can get both if that’s your thing, but each individual five-year chapter makes it more powerful: almost like the stories that are being told are coming straight from the ghosts of the past.

excellent!

I challenge anyone who even slightly doubts why #BlackLivesMatter to listen to only one of the many stories shared in this book. These stories relay the systemic oppression present in the United States that is relegated to the shadows of knowledge. An expertly edited anthology, it's presented as many memories, poems and lyrics of the African diaspora. A tragic, yet beautiful listen on audiobook that leaves on with a sense of hope.

Required listening for everyone!

This book moved me on so many levels! It’s required reading but better listening material! Hearing the authors read their essays make a great impact on the material! I can’t recommend this book enough!

America 's horrific truth uncovered

I have truly enjoyed reading and listening to Four Hundred Soul. I have purchased 16 copies to give to family and friends, so we can have a discussion.

What an amazing historical account

The collection of essays pie was in there. It is astounding and changes the foundation than anyone had from their K-12 education.

What I should have learned in school

At 69 years old… I have learned our history through this very well written book. Thank you

Fantastic book

Absolutely fantastic read and no dislikes as this is a book that can be added to year after year to coincide with cultural, societal, and economical changes. Well done!!

Absolutely Beautiful Legacy

I was recommended to read this book, and I’m so glad I finally did! I’m so proud to be from such an amazing legacy of people! This book was incredibly educating and extremely enlightening!

Stunning

I hardly have words to describe the power of this book and performance by so many talented people. It was so moving and so enlightening and engaging. Highly recommend.

Exceptional telling of heroes and oppression

A must read to see the roots of present day racism that is woven into the fabric of modern day oppression.