This groundbreaking work introduces us to the ideas of African American (AA) who were academically trained in classical and modern philosophy. It shows the extent that philosophical reflection has been present among AA scholars, though their work has been ignored by the philosophical establishment. The chapters explore AA contributions to philosophical questions regarding: the origins of philosophy; ethics; aesthetics and the philosophy of music; philosophy of science; and the philosophy of religion. The glossary is invaluable resource. It provides a list of 103 AA’s with doctorates in philosophy and related fields granted since emancipation, the institution they graduated from, and their dissertation title. This work provides a needed historical framework for AA academic philosophy.