Jan Batiste Adkins discusses her research documenting African Americans in the Bay Area with a focus on her work done for the Arcadia Publishing title African Americans of San Francisco.

African Americans of San Francisco examines aspects of life and conditions for Black residents, as well as chronicles the social, political and cultural contributions of the City’s African American. Adkins' book is an overview of Black pioneers of the 19th century who overcame great odds of slavery, racial discrimination and economic struggle to develop communities in San Francisco and documents the work of 20th-century leaders who protected the rights of San Francisco’s Black residents.

As part of Arcadia Publishing Company’s Images of America series, African Americans of San Francisco tells the important stories of Black pioneers from the 1800s to today who helped establish viable African American communities. Author Jan Batiste Adkins captures the incredible stories and images of public figures, religious leaders, athletes, politicians and everyday families as they mirrored the nation’s slow progress towards integration.

Jan Batiste Adkins, an educator, lecturer and author of Arcadia Publishing titles documenting African Americans in the Bay Area, African Americans of San Francisco, African Americans of Monterey County and African Americans of San Jose and Santa Clara County has spent the last several years researching the African American experience in the Bay Area. Her books document the successes of African Americans and encourage schoolchildren and adults to read about their local history. It celebrates the rich African American experience as seen in photographs from area archives, museums, local newspapers, historical societies, libraries and family oral histories. 

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