Forgotten Lives: African Americans in South Dakota (Nonfiction)

The overall content of this impressive book reaches far beyond the expectations of its title. Black history in general is given a fresh insight with this detailed exploration of the early men and women who found new roots and new hope in the north-central plains of the country. The families and their contributions to racially-mixed communities are brought to life in this thoughtful and well-written volume. A different light is shown of residents in familiar towns like Deadwood and on the services of the historically-nebulous Buffalo Soldiers. This book is an admirable effort in its scope, and a valuable, accurate and enlightening addition to the history of the western plains.