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Description
The Hairstons: An American Family in Black and WhiteWinner of the National Book Critics Circle Award The Hairstons is the extraordinary story of the largest family in America, the Hairston clan. With several thousand black and white members, the Hairstons share a complex and compelling history: divided in the time of slavery, they have come to embrace their past as one family. The black family's story is most exceptional. It is the account of the rise of a remarkable people the children, grandchildren,
Winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award
The Hairstons is the extraordinary story of the largest family in America, the Hairston clan. With several thousand black and white members, the Hairstons share a complex and compelling history: divided in the time of slavery, they have come to embrace their past as one family. The black family's story is most exceptional. It is the account of the rise of a remarkable people--the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of slaves--who took their rightful place in mainstream America. In contrast, it has been the fate of the white family--once one of the wealthiest in America--to endure the decline and fall of the Old South, and to become an apparent metaphor for that demise. But the family's fall from grace is only part of the tale. Beneath the surface lay a hidden history--the history of slavery's curse and how that curse plagued slaveholders for generations. For the past seven years, journalist Wiencek has listened raptly to the tales of hundreds of Hairston relatives, including the aging scions of both the white and black clans. He has crisscrossed the old plantation country in Virginia, North Carolina, and Mississippi to seek out the descendants of slaves. Visiting family reunions, interviewing family members, and exploring old plantations, Wiencek combs the far-reaching branches of the Hairston family tree to gather anecdotes from members about their ancestors and piece together a family history that involves the experiences of both plantation owners and their slaves. He expertly weaves the Hairstons' stories from all sides of historical events like slave emancipation, Reconstruction, school segregation, and lynching. Paradoxically, Wiencek demonstrates that these families found that the way to come to terms with the past was to embrace it, and this lyrical work, a parable of redemption, may in the end serve as a vital contribution to our nation's attempt to undo the twisted historical legacy of the past.Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
Published: 02/19/2000
ISBN: 9780312253936
Pages: 400
Weight: 1.25lbs
Size: 9.07h x 6.05w x 0.91d
Award: National Book Critics Circle Award - Winner
Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 35836 / Hairstons: An American Family in Black and White
Reading Level: 8.7 / Interest Level: Upper Grade / Point Value: 25
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4.1 ★★★★★
Based on 29 reviews
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Product Reviews
★★★★★ 4
Nice shoes for about a year and a half
Size: 13 Wide, Color: Brown, Size: 13 Wide, Color: Brown
I bought these shoes about a year and a half ago and they are comfortable and look much more expensive than they actually are. Today, I noticed them starting to tear a little bit, but if I can replace them every 18 months for this price, it is probably still a better value than high end shoes. The grip is good for dress shoes and has held up well, and they are a good fit that does not cause blisters from excessive rubbing. I might not choose these if I need to wear them every day because of their lifespan, but for a once or twice a week pair of dress shoes, they are a good value.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2025
★★★★★ 5
Runs big but great shoe!
Size: 12 Wide, Color: Black
Great looking shoe at a very good price! Runs big, I had to get the next size down for my son.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Fantastic Shoe for the Price
Size: 9.5 Wide, Color: Wingtip Black
Okay, I’m used to spending big bucks on men’s dress shoes. I’m talking $300 plus for American made shoes. They are recraftable (resole-able) for another $100 each time.
But since Covid, I don’t go to the office as often. One of my black dress shoes needs to be re-soled, and it will be. Just not now.
So I ran into these shoes on Amazon. It’s hard to argue with the price. Literally 10% of what I have been paying. So, are these shoes 90% lower in quality?
The short, simple answer is, surprisingly, no. Just the opposite.
Upon receipt, I inspected them carefully and they looked pretty darned decent. I was looking for any excuse to plop them back in the box and return them. I couldn’t find anything.
I appreciate that the leather upper is smooth and mildly shiny. This is a wing tip style shoe, so I’m impressed that the extensive stitching was evenly spaced. The leather detailing that I expect on a wing tip is also all there.
Inside the shoe, it is lined from the toes all the way to the heel box… nice! And that leather feels surprisingly supple. That is something I would expect on a much more expensive shoe. But definitely not at this price point.
Hmm.
I even liked the wax laces they chose. They are a little thicker and have more than adequate length. The shoe’s eyelets have interior facing metal grommets to protect against stretching and tear out of the leather and helps protect the laces against friction wear, as they are tightened and loosened over time. Now having that detail, at this price point, has raised both of my eyebrows.
Double hmm. Now I am really impressed.
The only thing that I didn’t like was that the stitching—that joins the uppers to the sole—is white. I needed to polish these shoes anyway, so I figured I’d see what would happen if I put black polish on the stitching.
I’m happy to say that the uppers shine up very nicely, to a high gloss. This was done with just a little bit of buffing, using a traditional horse hair bristled brush. And followed by a buffing cloth. Although I didn’t do it, the leather is smooth enough that I probably could have spit shined them.
And those pesky white stitches on the top side of the soles? Well I’m happy to report that they are now definitely black.
Turning the shoe over, I can visually see a lump where the shank is supposed to be. That’s a good thing. Not all shoes have a shank. It helps to support the arch. That’s another nice detail. I am expecting the shank to be plastic at this price point. So I am utterly shocked to report to you that a magnet sticks to the bottom of the shoe. That shank is steel! Now I am amazed! We’re talking mind blown, Purple smoke everywhere.
Speaking of details, I was very surprised to see the nicely done wing tip detailing, from on top of the shoe, carried over to the bottom of the sole. Wow. I have never seen that before. That’s surprising.
Now it is important to point out that the sole is some man made material. Definitely not leather. But that’s okay. Especially in the wet, leather wears out quickly, if you don’t wear rubber over shoes. One less thing to fuss about.
The heel itself has a band/layer of rust brown material sandwiched between black layers. I wonder if that is a cork or bamboo material? Having walked in these shoes, on concrete and tile floors, last week, there is a noticeable level of cush, or give. They will definitely not to be confused with sneakers. But for dress shoes, this is a pleasant and surprising experience.
The first day, I wore them at home, over the weekend and I’m glad I did that. They needed time to adjust to my feet. Any dress shoe that I have ever worn needs that.
But after that, these shoes have been pleasant enough to walk around in at work.
I’d have to say that these shoes give me at least 90% of what I would expect from my $300+ shoes for around 10% of the cost.
In my estimation, at their current price point, they constitute an excellent deal.
And especially if you are just breaking into the business world and need a good pair of interview shoes, these are definitely respectable… just be sure to put black polish on the white stitches.
Oh, BTW, I have wider feet and I ordered the shoe wide. After the initial stretching, they fit nicely.
So, in the final analysis, what do I think? I have to say, yes, these shoes definitely get my recommendation. Especially if price is a huge factor, then these shoes constitute an excellent deal.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2023
★★★★★ 5
Great dress shoe
Size: 10.5 Wide, Color: Black
Wow. Very impressed with these.
Would purchase again.
Comfortable enough for my teenage son, my husband and I very impressed with their look. Great for any special occasion.
Ours appear to be all leather. Even the sole. These will last a lifetime if cared for.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2026
★★★★★ 5
Great buy!!!
Size: 11, Color: Dark Brown
Very happy with shoes, color was good. Size was perfect. Comfort was great!!!
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Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2026