Dover Thrift Editions: Black History

Disillusioned with the United States after being expelled from medical school because of his race, Matthew Towns, a young African American man, moves to Berlin, Germany, where he meets and falls in love with Kautilya, a princess from India. They become members of an international coalition against white imperialism. Civil rights activist and NAACP cofounder W. E. B. Du Bois dedicated his life to illuminating racial bigotry's historical, economic, and cultural consequences. Dark Princess, written in the genre of fantasy romance fiction, offered Du Bois an opportunity to fulfill his greatest ambitions, dreams, and longings: eradicating prejudice and discrimination against African Americans and people of color. Although it was not well received when it was first published, the novel is a powerful indictment of white supremacy - and a stirring call for international solidarity among people of color. It has since been rediscovered by scholars and critics who appreciate its bold vision and historical significance.

This classic collection includes "Listen, Lord-A Prayer"; "The Creation"; "The Prodigal Son"; "Go Down Death-A Funeral Sermon"; "Noah Built the Ark"; "The Crucifixion"; "Let My People Go"; and "The Judgment Day."

Rudolph Fisher's outstanding debut novel The Walls of Jericho, published in 1928, explores race and class issues during the 1920s Harlem Renaissance through the lens of Black lawyer Fred Merrit, who buys a home in a white neighborhood bordering Harlem. What progresses is a satirical journey through Merrit's life as he encounters the racism of his new white neighbors as well as racism and classism among the residents of Black Harlem. This edition includes four of Fisher's short stories that capture the Black Jazz Age urban experience, initially published in the iconic magazine The Atlantic Monthly: "City of Refuge," "The Promised Land," "Ringtail," and "Blades of Steel."

Claude McKay's 1928 novel, Home to Harlem, is one of the most important works of the Harlem Renaissance. With raw, unflinching candor, McKay explores race, identity, love, and loss and gives voice to the plight of young Black men during the Jazz Age. Jake Brown, a Black American soldier and a World War I deserter, returns to Harlem and struggles to find his place in a vibrant working-class community that's rife with poverty, crime, and racism. He meets various characters, including a displaced Haitian intellectual, prostitutes, hustlers, and jazz musicians, and he experiences everything from love and joy to despair and violence.