One the the things I did when I got my new Amazon Kindle, was go through the over 5,000 free ebooks which they offered. I found this book among the titles. I had never heard of it before, nor it's authour Sutton E. Griggs. The books description peaked my interest:
"Self-published in 1899 and sold door-to-door by the author, this classic
African-American novel, a gripping exploration of oppression, miscegenation,
exploitation, and black empowerment, was a major bestseller in its day. The
dramatic story of a conciliatory black man and a mulatto nationalist who grow up
in a racist America and are driven to join a radical movement dedicated to the
creation of an all-black nation in Texas, Imperium in Imperio had a
profound influence on the development of black nationalism." Further research about the author revealed that he was a Baptist minister as well as a social activist.
This novel is beautifully written and utilizes imagery in a way that brings to life the essence of the characters. It lays out simply and moves easily among a variety of themes, within which a multi-layered influences propels each character towards their fate. I must admit I was astonished that such a novel was written in 1899, one that explores and discusses the issues of race in America, not only among Blacks and Whites, but also the issues around colourism within the Black community, especially in such a dynamic and dramatic way. I did not find the story line predictable and the intrigue of what would happen next fed my interest.
As someone who reads and has read a lot of books, this novel was indeed a rare gem that I found. It is among the 10 best books I had ever read, fiction or non-fiction.
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