Black America Series Portsmouth, Virginia

Whether assisting escapes through the Underground Railroad, forming banks, publishing a newspaper, or providing recreational facilities, Portsmouth's African Americans created one of the most stable middle-class black communities in America. African Americans in Portsmouth built a strong, insulated community because they were cognizant of the need to look inward. Early 20th-century leaders such as Dr. William Reid, Nancy T. Wheeler, and the Reverend Harvey N. Johnson Sr. were civic models and guiding forces for a community emerging from the ravages of slavery, and enduring the hardships of segregation. Black America: Portsmouth, Virginia captures the world of an ever-changing community and a people who persevered, no matter the odds. Pages: 128 Publisher: Arcadia Publishing Inc. Imprint: Arcadia Publishing Series: Black America Series Publication Date: 18th October 2003 Illustrations Note: Black and White ISBN: 9780738515816 Format: Paperback BISACs:PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects &a