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 8
... thoughts on the scientific matter, he closed the volume, placed it behind him in the hollow formed by his back and the ... thought of the discussions he had heard on the cars and other places from time to time, and of what he called "the ...
... thoughts on the scientific matter, he closed the volume, placed it behind him in the hollow formed by his back and the ... thought of the discussions he had heard on the cars and other places from time to time, and of what he called "the ...
Page 9
... thought incorrect in the works of the standard scientists. Moved by these thoughts he took a morocco-bound notebook from his vest pocket and wrote:—"This doctrine of racial superiority apparently incited the other white peoples, most of ...
... thought incorrect in the works of the standard scientists. Moved by these thoughts he took a morocco-bound notebook from his vest pocket and wrote:—"This doctrine of racial superiority apparently incited the other white peoples, most of ...
Page 10
... thought, was a conscience, honest but uneducated. Shortly afterwards another man who had been in the smoker had met Dixon in the aisle. With a laugh and a few terrible but good-natured oaths, he had said “That fellow is obsessed by the ...
... thought, was a conscience, honest but uneducated. Shortly afterwards another man who had been in the smoker had met Dixon in the aisle. With a laugh and a few terrible but good-natured oaths, he had said “That fellow is obsessed by the ...
Page 12
... thought. Did it? He had somehow felt that this Negro was above the ordinary and the sight of the book confirmed the feeling. A certain forced quality in the timbre of Dixon's laughter, as also the merry twinkle in his eye, had made him ...
... thought. Did it? He had somehow felt that this Negro was above the ordinary and the sight of the book confirmed the feeling. A certain forced quality in the timbre of Dixon's laughter, as also the merry twinkle in his eye, had made him ...
Page 13
... thought. Written by a Frenchman." Then, before he could recollect to whom he was talking—so full was he of what he regarded as the absurdity of Finot's view—he demanded— "Do you believe all this rot about the equality of the races ...
... thought. Written by a Frenchman." Then, before he could recollect to whom he was talking—so full was he of what he regarded as the absurdity of Finot's view—he demanded— "Do you believe all this rot about the equality of the races ...
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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