本书的作者攻读美国圣塔路易斯大学美国研究专业哲学博士的学位论文。该论文从历史的角度对美国黑人主动寻求教育的背景、原因和过程进行了详细的研究(内战前和内战期间)，用无可辩驳的证据推翻了“是北方教育者的解放后的黑奴带来受教育的机会且推动黑人教育发展”的说法，提出黑人教育之所以发展到今天是黑人主动寻求的结果。

PREFACE

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 2 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

A Talisman of Power and a Badge of Freedom

Humanitarianism，Patriotism，Religion

A Road to Black Self-Reliance and a Means to Reconstruct the South

CHAPTER 3 MAINSTREAM AMERICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN THEORIES OF EDUCATIoN IN THE ANTEBELLUM YEARS

Education and Republican Citizenry

Education and National Identity

Anti-Literacy Laws and American Slavery

Control and Counter-Control，Oppression and Resistance

Education and Freedom

CHAPTER 4 AFRICAN AMERICAN EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES IN THE PRE-CIVIL WAR YEARS

Black Education before the Enactment of the Anti-Literacy Laws

Black Education after the Enactment of the Anti．Literacy Laws

CHAPTER 5 AFIUCAN AMERICAN INITIATIVE IN BLACK EDUCATION DURING THE CIVIL WAR

The“Contrabands”at Fortress Monroe and Vicinity

The“Freedmen”at Port Royal and Its Surrounding Area

“Freedmen’s”Education in Other Places Occupied by the Union Army

CHAPTER 6 CoNCLUSION

BlBLIOGRAPHY