The African American Odyssey is a compelling story for the agency, survival, struggle and triumph over adversity. The authors shed light on what it means to be black in America and how African-American history is woven inextricably in the broader context of American history.

The text presents reports on the lives of ordinary men and women along with the lives of African-Americans and their impact on the struggle for equality to highlight the centrality of African Americans in the history of the United States more than any other text.