Africa - Black Judas: William Hannibal Thomas and

Black Judas: William Hannibal Thomas and "The American Negro"

Name: Black Judas: William Hannibal Thomas and "The American Negro"
Price: 29.95 USD
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Book Synopsis: William Hannibal Thomas (1843–1935) served with distinction in the U.S. Colored Troops in the Civil War (in which he lost an arm) and was a preacher, teacher, lawyer, state legislator, and journalist following Appomattox. In many publications up through the 1890s, Thomas espoused a critical though optimistic black nationalist ideology. After his mid-twenties, however, Thomas began exhibiting a self-destructive personality, one that kept him in constant trouble with authorities and always on the run. His book The American Negro (1901) was his final self-destructive act.

Attacking African Americans in gross and insulting language in this utterly pessimistic book, Thomas blamed them for the contemporary “Negro problem” and argued that the race required radical redemption based on improved “character,” not changed “color.” Vague in his recommendations, Thomas implied that blacks should model themselves after certain mulattoes, most notably William Hannibal Thomas.

Black Judas is a biography of Thomas, a publishing history of The American Negro, and an analysis of that book’s significance to American racial thought. The book is based on fifteen years of research, including research in postamputation trauma and psychoanalytic theory on self-hatred, to assess Thomas’s metamorphosis from a constructive race critic to a black Negrophobe. John David Smith argues that his radical shift resulted from key emotional and physical traumas that mirrored Thomas’s life history of exposure to white racism and intense physical pain.

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Discover the powerful and provocative book that shook American racial thought to its core. Introducing Black Judas: William Hannibal Thomas and "The American Negro." This captivating biography delves into the life of Thomas, a remarkable figure who served in the U.S. Colored Troops during the Civil War, losing an arm in the process. But that was just the beginning of his extraordinary journey.

Thomas's groundbreaking book, The American Negro, published in 1901, generated both shock and outrage. In this controversial work, he fearlessly addressed the pressing issues surrounding the "Negro problem," holding African Americans accountable while offering a path to radical redemption. Through meticulous research spanning over fifteen years, author John David Smith unveils the intricate publishing history of The American Negro, shedding light on its profound significance in shaping American racial thought.

Black Judas sets out to explore the complex and puzzling transformation of William Hannibal Thomas. How did a once constructive race critic evolve into a black Negrophobe? Smith's in-depth analysis unravels the enigmatic web of emotions and physical traumas that influenced Thomas's profound shift. Drawing on postamputation trauma research and psychoanalytic theory on self-hatred, Smith delves into the depths of Thomas's psyche, revealing the impact of white racism and intense physical pain on his worldview.

Don't miss the opportunity to delve into the mind of a controversial figure who left an indelible mark on American history. Order your copy of Black Judas: William Hannibal Thomas and "The American Negro" today and gain a unique perspective on the intricacies of racial thought in the United States.

Order now and embark on this captivating journey through history.

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