Strange Career: Reconciling Race and Profession in American Librarianship

Overview of obstacles facing African-Americans in librarianship. Concludes that "The history of librarianship in the United States is a history of exclusion, by the white majority, of African Americans from the activities of the profession, and the subsequent creation of separate African American professional institutions and activities. The white majority took an active role in excluding African Americans from four important elements of professionalism: the means of professional education, participation in professional organizations, meaningful attendance at professional conferences, and access to venues for publication."