From "Superman" to Man: A Fearless and Penetrating Discussion of America's Greatest ProblemThe first book from “a tireless champion of African history,” a novel that “challenged the theories that Blacks were inferior to whites” (New York Amsterdam News). Joel Augustus Roger’s seminal work from the Harlem Renaissance, this novel—first published in 1917—is a polemic against the ignorance that fuels racism. The central plot revolves around a train speeding to California, serviced by an African American porter named Dixon. On board is a United States senator from Oklahoma, a man obsessed by race who makes no attempts to hide his prejudice. Unable to sleep, the politician encounters Dixon in the smoking car, and thus ensues a debate about religion, science, and racial equality . . . “A bold discussion novel in which a cultured, well-travelled, black Pullman porter is drawn into a debate with a white passenger, a Southern senator, on the question of the superiority of the Anglo Saxon and the inferiority of the Negro.” —The Guardian “A genuine treasure. I still insist that From ‘Superman’ to Man is the greatest book ever written in English on the Negro by a Negro and I am glad to know that increasing thousands of black and white readers re-echo the high opinion of it which I had expressed some years ago.” —Hubert Henry Harrison “A stirring story, faithful to truth and helpful to a better understanding and feeling.” —Prof. George B. Foster, University of Chicago |
From inside the book
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Page 15
... hair or facial contour, to be other than purely nominal, must be one of mentality? And to classify humanity by intellect, would be, as you know, an impossible task. Nature, so far as we know, made only the individual. This idea has been ...
... hair or facial contour, to be other than purely nominal, must be one of mentality? And to classify humanity by intellect, would be, as you know, an impossible task. Nature, so far as we know, made only the individual. This idea has been ...
Page 18
... hair of the Egyptians of his May. In Book II, Chapter 104, of his history he says: “'I believe the Colchians are a colony of Egyptians, because like them they have black skin and woolly hair.' “Aristotle in his Physiognomy, Chapter VI ...
... hair of the Egyptians of his May. In Book II, Chapter 104, of his history he says: “'I believe the Colchians are a colony of Egyptians, because like them they have black skin and woolly hair.' “Aristotle in his Physiognomy, Chapter VI ...
Page 23
... hair evaporated long ago.” This reply nettled the senator still more. He demanded with increased irritation, “But what about slavery? The Negro has been a slave since the dawn of history. Consult any dictionary of synonyms, and you will ...
... hair evaporated long ago.” This reply nettled the senator still more. He demanded with increased irritation, “But what about slavery? The Negro has been a slave since the dawn of history. Consult any dictionary of synonyms, and you will ...
Page 25
... hair, and uses other devices to appear like the white man! Isn't that a sign of inferiority? Imitation is acknowledgment of superiority. Do you see any other race thus imitating the looks of the white man? I can't imagine a more comical ...
... hair, and uses other devices to appear like the white man! Isn't that a sign of inferiority? Imitation is acknowledgment of superiority. Do you see any other race thus imitating the looks of the white man? I can't imagine a more comical ...
Page 26
... hair may altogether change the current of one's life, what can you expect?" Dixon paused an instant, then continued: “I will give you an instance: two brothers intimately known to me arrived in New York from abroad. The hair of one ...
... hair may altogether change the current of one's life, what can you expect?" Dixon paused an instant, then continued: “I will give you an instance: two brothers intimately known to me arrived in New York from abroad. The hair of one ...
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Common terms and phrases
according added Africa American Anglo-Saxon appear asked beauty becomes began believe better blood Caucasian cause centuries certain Christianity citizens civilization color considered continued cultured difference Dixon equal Europe European exist fact feel forced give greater hair hand human hundred ignorant Indian inferiority instance Italy Jews kind laws less live look majority man's manner matter mean mind morality nature Negro never nigger North Northern objected opinion party passenger permitted persons porter prove question race racial reason regard remark replied replied Dixon respect returned seen senator similar skin slavery slaves so-called social South Southern speak spirit superior tell thing thought thousand tion took train true truth United Universal white women woman