In the autumn of 1873, one of the worst yellow fever epidemics in U.S. history swept through Shreveport. As the deadly scourge claimed a quarter of the town's population, the dedicated efforts of five missionary priests offered a call to hope, even as they laid down their own lives in the struggle. True martyrdom is vanishingly rare, extolled as the highest possible sacrifice, yet Shreveport bore abundant witness through these five saintly priests. Their heroism in the midst of this tragic chapter is captured here by a trio of authors, winding a narrative that transcends history to reveal complex themes of virtue, sacrifice and response in times of human crisis and suffering.

In the autumn of 1873, one of the worst yellow fever epidemics in U.S. history swept through Shreveport. As the deadly scourge claimed a quarter of the town's population, the dedicated efforts of five missionary priests offered a call to hope, even as they laid down their own lives in the struggle. True martyrdom is vanishingly rare, extolled as the highest possible sacrifice, yet Shreveport bore abundant witness through these five saintly priests. Their heroism in the midst of this tragic chapter is captured here by a trio of authors, winding a narrative that transcends history to reveal complex themes of virtue, sacrifice and response in times of human crisis and suffering.

What makes Shreveport's Oakland Cemetery so spooky might be the mass burial of 715 victims of the 1873 yellow fever epidemic. Another bone-chilling locale is the city's historic Municipal Auditorium, which according to local legends may have briefly served as a morgue under the watch of Dr. Willis P. Butler, perhaps the longest-serving Caddo Parish medical examiner and coroner. Years after his passing, Butler is still seen dutifully working in the courthouse and other public spaces. And over at the beautifully restored Logan Mansion, unexplained mischievous pranks are blamed on the spirits of a young girl whose life was tragically cut short. Historians Gary D. Joiner, PhD, and Cheryl H. White, PhD, recount the true stories of these and other notable landmarks framed within the intriguing twist of the paranormal.

In her diary, Mary Boykin Chesnut, the wife of a Confederate general and aid to president Jefferson Davis, James Chestnut, Jr., presents an eyewitness account of the Civil War.

An “engrossing and important book" (Wall Street Journal) that brings to life the fateful friendship between Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali In 1962, boxing writers and fans considered Cassius Clay an obnoxious self-promoter, and few believed that he would become the heavyweight champion of the world. But Malcolm X, the most famous minister in the Nation of Islam, saw the potential in Clay, not just for boxing greatness, but as a means of spreading the Nation’s message. The two became fast friends, keeping their interactions secret from the press for fear of jeopardizing Clay’s career. Clay began living a double life—a patriotic “good negro” in public, and a radical reformer behind the scenes. Soon, however, their friendship would sour, with disastrous and far-reaching consequences. Based on previously untapped sources, from Malcolm’s personal papers to FBI records, Blood Brothers is the first book to offer an in-depth portrait of this complex bond. An extraordinary narrative of love and deep affection, as well as deceit, betrayal, and violence, this story is a window into the public and private lives of two of our greatest national icons, and the tumultuous period in American history that they helped to shape.

Published in 1906 by Rev. Horace Talbert, some fifty years after slavery ended, AME church history comes to life through profiles of 122 men-faithful devotees, or spiritual "sons" of Bishop Richard Allen, founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Founded in 1816, the AME church was the first organized African American denomination in the United States. These sterling portraits of the "sons of Allen," mostly AME pastors, but also leading black men from other areas of industry, awaken the dreamer within... In celebration of the 200th anniversary of the founding of the AME church, the descendants of the author have reissued this remarkable book, which includes a "Sketch" by Rev. Talbert about his beloved alma mater Wilberforce University. This edition also has new material from Talbert's family members: a preface from Mrs. Suesetta Talbert McCree, a granddaughter of Rev. Talbert, believed to be the last surviving member of her generation; and a foreword by Rev. Malcolm Hassan Stephens, an Itinerant Elder of the AME Church and a great-great grandson of Rev. Talbert. The Sons of Allen is excellent primary source material for those interested in AME Church history, African American history, American history and genealogy. All readers will be inspired by the lives these men set forth to live, encouraged by the AME motto: "God our Father, Christ our redeemer, the Holy Spirit our comforter, Humankind our family."