#african americana
New Arrivals: First Edition of FOR LOVE OF IMABELLE (1957), by Chester Himes. A paperback original novel.
Sharp copy of the author’s first crime novel, introducing the characters Coffin Ed Johnson and Grave Digger Jones. Basis for the 1991 film adaptation A Rage In Harlem, directed by Bill Duke and starring Forest Whitaker, Robin Givens, Gregory Hines and Danny Glover. Terrific cover by Mitchell Hooks.
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Among the recently cataloged items we’ll be bringing with us to this weekend’s California International Antiquarian Book Fair: Cab Calloway and His Cotton Club Orchestra: Complete Souvenir Program and Life Sketch of Cab Calloway [Signed, ca.1933].
Cotton Club program providing a biographical sketch of Calloway, background on his character Minnie the Moocher, a ten song setlist, and “Who’s Who in the Band.” Calloway had taken over a brilliant but failing band, The Missourian’s, in 1930; after changing their name to Cab Calloway and His Orchestra, the group was hired by the Cotton Club in 1931 as a replacement for the Duke Ellington Orchestra while they were traveling. Calloway quickly proved so popular at the venue that his band became the co-house band with Ellington’s. An early, signed piece of ephemera from a key period in Calloway’s career. Not found in OCLC.
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New Arrivals: First Edition of CAPITALISM PLUS DOPE EQUALS GENOCIDE (ca.1970), by Michael “Cetewayo” Tabor.
An early critique on the relationship between drugs and the Black community by Tabor, a Harlem-born member of the Black Panther Party and one of the New York 21. The tract was important for its role in stimulating discussion on the role of drugs in marginalized communities, and an important influence in the development of the anti-drug stance taken by other radical groups. Indeed, among the Party’s many national social programs included efforts to combat drug addiction, often led by former addicts who worked with the Party. “Dope, they argued, was part of the oppressor’s plan to "ensure our enslavement”…Improving the health status of blacks thus went hand in hand with improving their political, economic, and social status. In the Party’s view, black political activism and black public health activism were interwoven" (Bloom, Joshua and Waldo E. Martin. Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party, p.188-189). Reprinted in several different forms, this version is preceded only by the shorter, 4-page version published by the Committee to Defend the Panther 21, titled The Plague: Capitalism + Dope = Genocide.
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New Arrivals: Black Graphics International: A Journal of Revolutionary Literature & Art - No.20 (Fall-Winter, 1975), edited by Aaron Pori Pitts.
A later issue of this Detroit-based Black Arts journal, founded in 1969 by artist and poet Aaron Pori Pitts. This issue features an editorial on “Fascism in the Media,” essays, news, and artwork by regulars in the Detroit arts and literary scene. Laid into this issue are three BGI advertising flyers, subscription form, three-year calender on cardstock (1975-1977), and an additional flyer for the opening of Ed Bullins’s The Fabulous Miss Marie at The Langston Hughes Theatre (Feb.26, 1976).
Interested? Write to [email protected]
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New Arrivals: Black Dialogue Magazine - Vol.IV, No.2 (Summer, 1970)
Late issue of this Black Arts / Black Nationalist publication, with contributions by Joe Goncalves, Weusi Sema, William A. Maynard Jr., James Forman, Jackie Earley, Isaac J. Black, Sonia Sanchez, Cherilyn C. Wright, and Jeff Donaldson, et al. Contains a special section by Sharon Burke honoring Alain Locke.
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New Arrivals: First Edition of HIGH RIDER (1969), by Vance Donovan. A paperback original.
Blaxploitation novel following the rise of a young black man from low-level horse handler from Watts to the overlord of a Hollywood Hills brothel, and the two women (black and white) who vied for his attention.
If clothes make the man, then this guy’s winning at life…
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New Arrivals: BLACK POLITICS - VOL.2, NOS.13-14 (Berkeley, 1969).
Final issue of this short-lived, mimeographed Black liberation journal, published in Berkeley between 1968-1969. Contents include an editorial on police murder, and articles by Pat Wilmot (“The Role of Violence in Revolutionary Change”), Onij-Nejih (“The Strike as a Tactic,” “We Will Either Find A Way Or Make A Way”), Tom Sanders (“No Strike Has Ever Been Lost”), and Mek Nimr (“Israel–The Freest Police State in the World”). Includes a lengthy article titled “Terrorism and Sabotage” by George Prosser (pseud. of H. Bruce Franklin). Illustrated throughout with pro-Panther photographs, quotes by various radical figures, and crude diagrams of molotov coctails, mortars, munitions, and wearponry. DANKY 970.
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New Arrivals: First Edition of POLICE BRUTALITY: LYNCHING IN THE NORTHERN STYLE (1947).
Issued by Harlem’s black communist councilman Benjamin J. Davis, who would later be convicted and jailed in 1951 under the Smith Act. A scarce pamphlet which includes photographs of men who had been beaten by policemen, including 42-year-old Samuel T. Symonette, who was beaten by four Harlem detectives with “pistols and Pepsi-Cola bottles”.
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![Mama ThompsonWaco, Texas[Thompson Family Album]©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2015](https://64.media.tumblr.com/555bc1180411a21dbcf4b693ae9767ce/tumblr_nkdxunpDkB1qhljlao1_1280.jpg "Mama ThompsonWaco, Texas[Thompson Family Album]©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2015")
![The Thompson SistersWaco, Texas[Thompson Family Album]©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2015](https://64.media.tumblr.com/4c04a2933c7d5d258e5b828c93c7a1b2/tumblr_nk96x7jGC91qhljlao1_1280.jpg "The Thompson SistersWaco, Texas[Thompson Family Album]©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2015")
![Mr. Edward G. ThompsonWaco, TX[Thompson Family Album]©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2015](https://64.media.tumblr.com/cb5ca1c1a98688a5f3fd4262b42487da/tumblr_nk6u07IsHj1qhljlao1_r1_1280.jpg "Mr. Edward G. ThompsonWaco, TX[Thompson Family Album]©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2015")
![This OneMr. William S. Grady[Grady Family Album]©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2015](https://64.media.tumblr.com/c3530bd125526d98e3a9b0a31b4d5b1b/tumblr_nk17gp0pla1qhljlao1_640.jpg "This OneMr. William S. Grady[Grady Family Album]©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2015")
![Minnie and Marie (18 months)May 1953[Grady Family Album]©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2015](https://64.media.tumblr.com/373bd8a5c6d29fe401c42c8250269a80/tumblr_nk160f6spE1qhljlao1_1280.jpg "Minnie and Marie (18 months)May 1953[Grady Family Album]©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2015")
Johnny Frank Agustus Griggs
The Patriarch
Sunrise: July 8, 1919 ~ Sunset: January 30, 2015
From Jasper County, GA, Mr. Gus hunted and fished until the age of 90. He leaves behind 13 children and 56 grandchildren. I took this photo of my granddad at his home in 2006.
[Griggs Family Album]
©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2015
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![After The Ball Game 1950’s [Mack Family Album] ©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2014](https://64.media.tumblr.com/1bc9c7ffcde3c59df991d86109ffd8e8/tumblr_n0gcsihXaO1qhljlao1_1280.jpg "After The Ball Game 1950’s [Mack Family Album] ©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2014")
“Mama says her leg is hurting”
Henry, Mama, Mr. Williams and Bob
In the Backyard by the fig tree.
[Breckenridge Family Album]
©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2014
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![Sisters in Matching Dresses February, 1970 [Smith Family Album] ©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2014](https://64.media.tumblr.com/a67fe32764bbed9bdcd0e003a322cceb/tumblr_n0bspfBvAm1qhljlao1_1280.jpg "Sisters in Matching Dresses February, 1970 [Smith Family Album] ©WaheedPhotoArchive, 2014")
