Lois Benjamin Bücher

Focusing on the shifting value systems within the Black community during the 20th century, this book examines the generational differences and the ongoing challenges posed by racial divides in the 21st century. The second edition introduces new chapters on influential politicians and artists, highlighting emerging roles since the post-civil rights era. It emphasizes the themes of resiliency and survival, exploring how the community can navigate and adapt to continuous social and cultural transformations.

In this masterful work of family-focused sociology, Lois Benjamin considers the lives of Pennie and Roscoe James and their children, revealing how a large, close-knit African American family with humble origins in a small town of North Carolina is shaped by the contours of its religious and ethical value system.