Book · 2025 · Biography & Autobiography
The Second Emancipation
Nkrumah, Pan-Africanism, and Global Blackness at High Tide
Why people recommend it
The Second Emancipation by Howard W. French is a historical biography examining the life of Kwame Nkrumah and the broader struggle for Ghanaian independence. On The Ezra Klein Show, Marc Lynch selected the recent volume to conclude his reading recommendations. Lynch noted that although the publication does not focus on the Middle East or the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, he ultimately chose it because it offers a fascinating narrative about anti-colonialism, nation-building, and African history. By detailing Nkrumah's pivotal role in emancipation and state formation, the biography provides rich historical context regarding the complexities of post-colonial leadership and the pursuit of true national sovereignty.
Who recommended it
- Marc Lynch Recommended
Marc Lynch — 1 mention
“And then for the last book, I really went back and forth, but I think I’m going to go with Howard French’s recent book called "The Second Emancipation." It’s a biography of Kwame Nkrumah and Ghanaian independence, and it has nothing to do with Israel-Palestine or the Middle East, but it’s just a fascinating story about decolonization and the frustrations”