City Within a City

Todd E. Robinson is Assistant Professor of History at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

"Focusing on Grand Rapids, Michigan, Robinson reveals how African Americans in this city fought against white racism in housing, education, economy, and other facets of black lives. Diary entries, published and unpublished documents of local and state organizations, local newspapers, and other sources enable a rich, deep investigation into the city's black history in the 20th century, especially the period between just before WW II and through the long civil rights era. Robinson's writing flows well and vividly captures the lives and struggles as well as the dignity of African Americans at the time. His work is not only a valuable addition to historical investigations of black Detroit and Michigan...but also the first quality scholarship on black Grand Rapids and one of the few urban history literatures on a secondary city. Summing Up: Highly recommended."--Choice, July 2013 "This monograph cogently argues for the significance of smaller cities as African American destinations and settings for the 'long civil rights movement.'... One of the book's unique strengths is its focus on teenagers in the local black freedom struggle... Robinson's decision to drive the narrative largely through the recollections of black leaders and activists adds depth and interest... A City within a City makes a solid contribution toward understanding the growth of African American political and social movements in Grand Rapids and beyond."--Journal of American History "A City within a City makes an important contribution to the growing body of scholarship employing the 'long civil rights movement' and 'black freedom studies' approach. In this study, Robinson successfully makes the case for the importance of examining the history of secondary cities by exploring the black fight for equality in Grand Rapids, Michigan at the community level in response to local conditions and concerns."--American Historical Review

• Preface Acknowledgments Abbreviations 1 "Rowing, Not Drifting": Black Organizational Reform before World War II 2 Citizens' Action: Managerial Racism and Reform Politics 3 The Suburban Oasis: The Origins of Segregated Space 4 The Mustache Saga: The Rise of Black Youth Protest 5 A Black Child's Burden: Busing to Achieve Racial Balance 6 Where Do We Go from Here? Setting the Course for Racial Reconciliation Conclusion: Secondary Cities and the Black Experience Notes Index