The Black Image in the White Mind
The Debate on Afro-American Character and Destiny, 1817–1914
A landmark history of how white American thinkers constructed ideas about Black character, citizenship, and destiny from 1817 to 1914.
Why this book matters
Fredrickson’s book examines the intellectual history of American racism and the relationship between racial theory, public policy, and the limits of multiracial democracy. It received a 1972 Anisfield-Wolf Book Award in nonfiction.
Why this copy
This stated first edition retains its original dust jacket and comes from the Dr. Leonard A. James, Ed.D. Family Collection, with Dr. James’s ownership stamp on the half-title. Its wear and reported handwriting preserve visible evidence of use.
Edition details
- Author
- George M. Fredrickson
- Publisher
- Harper & Row
- Publication
- New York, 1971
- Edition
- First edition
- Format
- Cloth hardcover in printed dust jacket
- Pagination
- xiii, 343 pages
- ISBN-10
- 006011343X
- ISBN-13
- 9780060113438
- LCCN
- 71-138721
- Catalog number
- AKOMA-RB-0120
Condition
Good minus overall; dust jacket Fair. The jacket has pronounced edge wear, creasing, tears, chips and areas of loss, especially at the spine ends and upper edges, with rubbing and surface soiling. The half-title bears a former-owner name stamp, and the owner reports handwriting on pages, normal page wear, and light discoloration. The volume was not fully collated and odor was not assessable.
Provenance
From the Dr. Leonard A. James, Ed.D. Family Collection. The half-title bears the former-owner name stamp LEONARD A. JAMES.
Research note
Edition and condition were verified from owner-supplied photographs and corroborated against the Open Library and Internet Archive record. Cultural significance was checked against the Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards. Market references are specialist asking prices, not sold results.




