John Ernest offers a comprehensive survey of the broad-ranging and influential African American organizations and networks formed in the North in the late eighteenth century through the end of the Civil War. He examines fraternal organizations, churches, conventions, mutual aid benefit and literary societies, educational organizations, newspapers, and magazines. Ernest argues these organizations demonstrate how African Americans self-definition was not solely determined by slavery as they tried to create organizations in the hope of creating a community.-publisher description.

Cities on the hill : organizing communities -- Mutual interest, mutual benefit, mutual relief -- "Plain and simple gospel" -- "The united wisdom of the world" -- "The collected wisdom of our people" -- Breaking "the chains of arrogance" -- "Our warfare lies in the field of thought" -- Postscript.