Liberia, South Carolina

“This book is a beacon for those of us who struggle to uplift the study and celebration of African-American Appalachian communities and people.”—Appalachian Mountain Books

“This case study of an African American community is a balanced presentation of family narratives, historians' research, and anthropological insights. It is a must-have book for collections in African American studies, anthropology, sociology, and other social sciences.”—CHOICE

“A book that will become a foundational text for scholars planning to teach Black Appalachian history and should also become a critical resource for scholars researching rural Black communities and collecting oral histories.”—Black Perspectives

“Coggeshall succeeds in telling a story of Black life in America from the perspective of five generations of one extended family. Liberia, South Carolina, furthermore leaves no doubts of this community’s belonging to the broader story of radical Black freedom struggles in America.”—Journal of African American History

“John M. Coggeshall’s Liberia, South Carolina offers an in-depth and moving history of rural African American resistance to white domination in the American south by former slaves and their descendants. A remarkable story.”—Susan E. Keefe, Appalachian State University

“An intricate, nuanced perspective on this community’s history, Liberia, South Carolina complicates simplistic understandings of Jim Crow and highlights the importance of studying African American communities in Appalachia. A tremendously important book.”—Bruce Baker, Newcastle University