Reversing Sail

Author Michael A. Gomez presents Reversing Sail: A History of the African Diaspora, 2nd Edition, to analyze the global movement and historical experiences of African peoples. This textbook establishes a structured analytical framework for investigating the social, cultural, political, and economic factors that shaped Black history across successive historical eras.

Beginning in antiquity, the thematic narrative traces how early global trade networks and widespread systems of chattel slavery affected communities over long periods. The historical scope tracks major developments leading into the twenty-first century, illustrating how individuals and communities confronted forced labor systems while organizing active resistance against subjugation.

By incorporating recent historical research on the African Diaspora into this updated second edition, the work offers a revised study of dispersed populations and international movements. The volume provides structured material to support academic course work focused on global migrations, institutional structures, and long-term socio-economic change.