Climbing Jacob's Ladder traces the history of the black family from its roots in Africa, through slavery, Reconstruction, the Depression, and the civil rights movement, to the present, arguing that black families cannot be measured against white norms.

This groundbreaking, provocative work dispels some of the most common myths, misconceptions, misunderstandings, and misinformation about African American families. Climbing Jacob's Ladder takes a fresh look at the evolution of Black families, describes the forces that have shaped them, and examines their resiliency in the face of difficult conditions, and the strengths that help them endure.