I am deeply grateful to Counterpoint for the enthusiasm with which they embraced a piece of American history that I thought very much needed to be aired. To Jack Shoemaker, Alisha Gorder, Megan Fishmann, Jordan Koluch, Jennifer Alton, Yukiko Tominaga, my thanks. And also to my agent, Michael Carlisle, who found the perfect home for this book.
I would also like to thank Adam Winkler, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Leon Friedman, Marsha Darling, and Ronald King for careful reads, excellent suggestions, and gratifying support.
In previous books, I’ve expressed appreciation to my wife, Nancy, and daughter, Lee, who have the thankless job of putting up with me. I’m happy to say that they still do.