Beacon Classics Series

George Robert Twelves Hewes, a Boston shoemaker who participated in such key events of the American Revolution as the Boston Massacre and the Tea Party, might have been lost to history if not for his longevity and the historical mood of the 1830’s. When the Tea Party became a leading symbol of the Revolutionary ear fifty years after the actual event, this ‘common man’ in his nineties was ‘discovered’ and celebrated in Boston as a national hero. Young pieces together this extraordinary tale, adding new insights about the role that individual and collective memory play in shaping our understanding of history.

In this classic work of economic history and social theory, Karl Polanyi analyzes the economic and social changes brought about by the “great transformation” of the Industrial Revolution. His analysis explains not only the deficiencies of the self-regulating market, but the potentially dire social consequences of untempered market capitalism. New introductory material reveals the renewed importance of Polanyi’s seminal analysis in an era of globalization and free trade.

For hundreds of years, the history of the conquest of Mexico and the defeat of the Aztecs has been told in the words of the Spanish victors. Miguel León-Portilla has long been at the forefront of expanding that history to include the voices of indigenous peoples. In this new and updated edition of his classic The Broken Spears, León-Portilla has included accounts from native Aztec descendants across the centuries. These texts bear witness to the extraordinary vitality of an oral tradition that preserves the viewpoints of the vanquished instead of the victors. León-Portilla’s new Postscript reflects upon the critical importance of these unexpected historical accounts.

The extraordinary biographical novel about a Chinese-American woman who fought for independence and dignity in the American West

A limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette

“Fast-paced and entertaining-packed with adventure, drama, and inspiration.” —San Francisco Chronicle

Lalu Nathoy’s father called his thirteen-year-old daughter his treasure, his “thousand pieces of gold”—yet when famine strikes northern China in 1871, he is forced to sell her. Polly, as Lalu is later called, is sold to a brothel, sold again to a slave merchant bound for America, auctioned to a saloonkeeper, and offered as a prize in a poker game. 

Celebrated author Ruthanne Lum McCunn traces the gripping narrative of Lalu’s courageous attempts to escape captivity and then enslavement, and her unflagging efforts to live free in the American West as Polly, despite devastating losses. With over a quarter of a million copies sold, Thousand Pieces of Gold remains an enduring classic of biographical historical fiction, starring an unforgettable Chinese-American heroine whose struggles put a human face on the anti-immigration policies of the past and present.

Villains of All Nations explores the ‘Golden Age’ of Atlantic piracy (1716-1726) and the infamous generation whose images underlie our modern, romanticized view of pirates.

Rediker introduces us to the dreaded black flag, the Jolly Roger; swashbuckling figures such as Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard; and the unnamed, unlimbed pirate who was likely Robert Louis Stevenson’s model for Long John Silver in Treasure Island.

This history shows from the bottom up how sailors emerged from deadly working conditions on merchant and naval ships, turned pirate, and created a starkly different reality aboard their own ships, electing their officers, dividing their booty equitably, and maintaining a multinational social order. The real lives of this motley crew-which included cross-dressing women, people of color, and the’outcasts of all nations’-are far more compelling than contemporary myth.

 
In this classic work, Herbert Marcuse takes as his starting point Freud’s statement that civilization is based on the permanent subjugation of the human instincts, his reconstruction of the prehistory of mankind – to an interpretation of the basic trends of western civilization, stressing the philosophical and sociological implications.

3 leading Black scholars radically reframe the debates surrounding the academic achievement of African American students in this groundbreaking essay collection

A limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette

The unique social and cultural position Black students occupy—in a society which often devalues and stereotypes African American identity—fundamentally shapes students’ experience of school and sets up unique obstacles. In 3 separate but allied essays, Theresa Perry, Claude Steele, and Asa Hilliard provide an understanding of how these forces work, opening the door to practical, powerful methods for promoting high achievement at all levels.

Theresa Perry opens with illuminating how the dilemmas Black students face are rooted in the experience of race and ethnicity in America, making the task of achievement distinctive and difficult.

Claude Steele follows up with stunningly clear empirical psychological evidence that when Black students believe they are being judged as members of a stereotyped group—rather than as individuals—they do worse on tests.

Finally, Asa Hilliard argues against a variety of false theories and misguided views of African American achievement, sharing examples of real schools, programs, and teachers around the country that allow Black students to achieve at high levels.

Nearly 20 years since its first publication, Young, Gifted, and Black remains a critical text for educators and social justice advocates alike, showcasing the imperative work that must still be done to change the way we talk and think about Black student achievement.

From the celebrated author of Freedom Dreams, a thought-provoking look at how the multicolored urban working class are the solution—not the problem—to the ills of American cities

A limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette

In this classic work, acclaimed historian Robin D. G. Kelley undermines false perceptions of Black culture to highlight how grassroots movements hold the key to revolutionizing urban America.

Starting with an insightful look at street culture—from the “dozens” to pick-up basketball—Kelley shows how these misunderstandings of Black culture are at the center of the failure of public policy, scholarship and social movements to save our cities. He critiques both conservatives and liberals for ignoring what these cultural forms mean for their practitioners. Blending wit, intellect, and historical detail, he offers groundbreaking analyses of the multicultural roots of Black urban culture and the mistakes of the labor movement in denying the importance of cultural factors.

With Kelley’s crucial insights as timely now as when they were first published, this repackaged edition of Yo’ Mama’s Disfunktional! shows how the most heartening progress toward a better future for urban America is revealed in urban grassroots movements.

A deluxe hardcover edition of one of James Baldwin’s most admired works, exploring what it means to be Black in America and his own search for identity

Part of the Beacon Classics series

Originally published in 1955, James Baldwin’s timeless and moving essays on life in Harlem, the protest novel, movies, and African Americans abroad inaugurated him as one of the leading interpreters of the dramatic social changes erupting in the United States in the 20th century. Through a mix of autobiographical and analytical essays, Baldwin delivers honest and raw revelations about what it means to be Black in America, specifically pre-Civil Rights Movement, and how, he himself, came to understand the nation.

Writing as an artist, activist, and social critic, Baldwin examines everything from the significance of the protest novel to the motives and circumstances of the many Black expatriates of the time, from his home in “The Harlem Ghetto” to a sobering “Journey to Atlanta.” He was one of the few writing on race at the time who addressed the issue with a powerful mixture of outrage at the gross physical and political violence against Black citizens and measured understanding of their oppressors, which helped awaken a white audience to the injustices under their noses.

For fans of Baldwin’s well-known works or those new to Baldwin altogether, this celebrated essay collection showcases his extraordinary writing, revolutionary analyses, and prophetic insight into American culture and politics.

The powerful memoir of the most celebrated and blacklisted Black American of the 20th century—offering a defiant challenge to the prevailing fear and racism that continues to characterize American society

A limited Beacon Classics edition, with a gorgeous spot gloss cover and retro, classic palette

Paul Robeson recounts his journey from star athlete to esteemed actor, singer, and civil rights activist, and the racism and political persecution he faced that attempted to silence him. In the first half of the 20th century, Robeson’s international achievements in starring roles on stage and screen made him the most celebrated Black American of his day. But his outspoken criticism of racism in the United States, his strong support of African independence, and his fascination with the Soviet Union placed him under the debilitating scrutiny of McCarthyism.

A bold answer to his accusers, Here I Stand details how these challenges Robeson faced only strengthened his resolve to fight against injustice. In our own time of increased scrutiny and attempts to limit people’s right to protest, Robeson’s unwavering courage and commitment to his principles offers an inspiring model for how we all must continue to stand up for what we believe in.

Here I Stand is not simply a memoir, but a testament to the enduring spirit of resilience and resistance in the face of adversity.