Unsung: Unheralded Narratives of American Slavery and Abolition is an anthology curated by Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. The Schomburg Center had been a part of The New York public library from the start, as the Division of Negro History, Literature, and Prints. The division worked to document the changing nature of Harlem after the Great Migration. A year later, the library added an extensive personal collection of Arturo Alfonso Schomburg, in the honor of whom they renamed the division.

Arturo Alfonso Schomburg was an Afro-Puerto Rican historian, writer, collector, and activist. His collection included thousands of books, pamphlets, and manuscripts that corroborated the painful account of Black Atlantic, some of which he witnessed first-hand. After he sold his initial collection to The NYPL, he used the money to travel and collect more books. He came back with them and served as the first curator of the Schomburg Center. Today Schomburg Center serves not only, as the home of rich Black history, heritage, and culture but also as a sanctuary for Black literature.

Unsung is a collection of the selected contents from this rich history. It includes palpable narratives of American slavery and abolition efforts from a wide range of witnesses including formerly enslaved men and women and Black abolitionists. While it takes us deep into the harrowing narratives buried in the slavery archives, it also gives us a peek into the Black brilliance, reflected in the anti-slavery poems, children’s literature, and drama.

How did it make me feel?

Sad. Uncomfortable. Disgusted. This is how I always feel when I read the history of slavery. This is how we should always feel. Each and every one of us. Yes, it is going to be uncomfortable, no doubt about that. How can we sit through the narratives of atrocious cruelties of humans upon fellow humans and not be disturbed? But we must feel this uneasiness in order to remind ourselves every day why the demand for racial justice is significant. Why Black Lives Matter is not just a movement but an undeniable right of Black people. Why each and every one of us in this world needs to stand with our Black friend, colleague, neighbor.

Unsung to me is an important piece of literature, shining light upon the ugly face of American slavery, digging the profound truths from the deepest, darkest corner of history. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it.

Unsung is set to publish on Feb 16, 2021. Pre-order your copy here. If you use my link to buy, I may get a small commission which will help me keep my blog running! 🙂 Thank you for your support!

Similar Reads

Another book that’s an absolute read for understanding Black American history is Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. Click here to read my review.

Read about one man’s life of slavery and escape in 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup. Click here to read my review.