"Although slavery was outlawed in the northern states in 1827, the illegal slave trade continued in the one place modern readers would least expect, the streets and ports of America's great northern metropolis: New York City. In 'The Kidnapping Club,' historian Jonathan Daniel Wells takes readers to a rapidly changing city rife with contradiction, where social hierarchy clashed with a rising middle class, Black citizens jostled for an equal voice...

The country of Liberia boasts a rich history and a vibrant culture. Founded as a home for former slaves and free blacks from the United States and the Caribbean, Liberia is unique among its African neighbors as the political, economic, and social structures of the country are derived from both American and African traditions. Detailed photographs and insightful sidebars accompany the text and allow the reader to learn about the challenges facing Liberia...