African American Education Uplift Activism Chicago 1930s Ross D. Brown

Description: Watching My Race Go By. 16 Choice Selections [Cover title] Author: Brown, Ross D. Title: Watching My Race Go By. 16 Choice Selections [Cover title] Publication: Chicago, Illinois: [self-published?], 1931 Description: 9” x 6”. Stapled thin card wrappers. Pp. 16. Good: moderate stain to rear wrap and edges of most leaves; large diagonal crease reinforced with tape inside front wrap and extending throughout; scar of former adhesion just barely affecting one character of text; a few small tears and wear at edges. This is a rare collection of musings by a lesser known African American author and activist, Ross D. Brown, who vowed on its cover that “a page each day will keep intolerance away.” We were not able to find much about Brown, save for the partial text of a talk given at Northwestern in 2018 that was intended as the foundation of a book about him. He was born in Indiana in 1885 and published his first pamphlet in 1915. A lifelong labor organizer and committed Socialist, Brown campaigned heavily for the party in the Midwest throughout the 1910s and 1920s. He moved to Chicago in the 1930s and became an Associate Minister of the Pilgrim Baptist Church and in 1941 he founded his own church, the Truth Seekers Temple. In 1943 Brown authored and self-published another intrepid work entitled The Afro-American World Almanac: Feats, Facts, Fears and Faults of a Great Race. He also published at least three volumes of poetry as well as chapbooks with titles such as The Negro and the Next War and There Are No White People in the Holy Bible. The present work consists of 15 page-long essays, aimed to educate and inspire African Americans. There were brief histories of Bessie Coleman, Frederick Douglass and Wendell Phillips, as well as “Things We Should Know,” a congeries of facts about notable African Americans in politics, entertainment, sports and science. Brown mused that “if the Unknown Hero was America's greatest fighter, he was surely a Negro Soldier” and imparted his notions on criminal justice: “treat them, not for punishment but to reform them and protect society. Treat them kindly, for they are human and may be helpless.” The title verse listed dozens of white and African American achievers throughout history so that the reader might self-educate: the “new intellectual Negro . . . sits on the front porch of the future, applauding the pageant of progress, while watching my royal race go by.” Rare observations of an African American enterpriser. OCLC shows two holdings. Good. Seller ID: 7858 Subject: African Americana, Education, Uplift This item is offered by Langdon Manor Books, LLC, antiquarian booksellers. Please do not hesitate to contact us for additional information and/or photos and we will respond promptly. We package our items carefully, ship daily, and have a no hassle returns policy--your satisfaction is guaranteed. We are members of the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America (ABAA), the International League of Antiquarian Booksllers (ILAB) and the Independent Online Booksellers Association (IOBA) and adhere to their rules of ethics. ALL ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED IN PERPETUITY TO BE AUTHENTIC AND ORIGINAL Terms and shipping: Payment is required within 3 days of purchase. Payment via paypal unless other arrangements have been made prior to purchase or bidding. Shipping in the continental United States, with delivery confirmation is $4.00 International shipping via USPS priority is based on weight and location. International purchases under 4 pounds and under $100 may be shipped via USPS First Class. Texas residents will be charged 6.25% sales tax. Please note that any bookends you see in a photograph are NOT included as part of this purchase. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. We allow returns for any reason, our feedback is perfect, and we will absolutely make things right if you are disappointed with your purchase. This listing was created by Bibliopolis.

Price: 1250 USD

Location: Houston, Texas

End Time: 2025-01-05T17:58:05.000Z

Shipping Cost: 10 USD