Although Black contributions to cities can be traced back to the founding of our country, these contributions have often been overlooked by scholars. In Building the Black City: The Transformation of American Life, Joe William Trotter, Jr., takes us on a chronological journey, spanning all corners of the United States. The book documents the many accomplishments and contributions Black people made to building the Black City—a city within the city, where Black residents invested in homeownership, entrepreneurship, and community building. Using the lenses of property ownership, civic organizations, and the church, Trotter demonstrates how Black people engaged in politics (the vote and beyond) to improve their own standing within each city as well as their influence on the growth of these cities. The book covers Charleston; Savannah; New Orleans; Washington, DC; Baltimore; Richmond; Birmingham; Durham; Atlanta; Houston; Miami; Tulsa; early New York (New Amsterdam); Philadelphia; Boston; Chicago; Detroit; Milwaukee; Cleveland; Cincinnati; Pittsburgh; the San Francisco Bay Area; Los Angeles; and Seattle.

The book is equal parts history, urban studies, political science, and anthropology. Trotter tackles the barriers to homeownership, entrepreneurship, and political participation Black people faced in each city. There are three key findings from the bo