Synopsis
A chilling tale of living dystopia in the Jim Crow era and a utopian shadow state that exposes the conflict between loyalty, morality and the forces of poverty, racism and supremacism.
Written in 1899, Grigg's moving, terrifying book describes the Jim Crow era life of a black man inhabiting a living dystopia. Belton Piedmont is from a poor background, he works hard to become educated but is subjected to the full range of discrimination and racism as he grows older. At the point where he has lost all hope he is introduced to the notion of a shadow state, 'Imperium in Imperio', a utopia where black people are treated equally and attempt to bring their values into the heart of government in Texas, altering his life forever. Grigg's unflinching narrative explores nationalism, civil disobedience, voter suppression, poverty and education, all still familiar themes today.
Foundations of Black Science Fiction. New forewords and fresh introductions give long-overdue perspectives on significant, early Black proto-sci-fi and speculative fiction authors who wrote with natural justice and civil rights in their hearts, their voices reaching forward to the writers of today. The series foreword is by Dr Sandra Grayson.
About the Author
Sutton Elbert Griggs (1872–1933) is a key voice in African-American literature, history and proto-science fiction. He was an author, Baptist minister, newspaper publisher and social activist, who wrote social and religious tracts as well as numerous books, such as his novels Imperium in Imperio (1899), Overshadowed (1901) and The Hindered Hand; or, The Reign of the Repressionist (1905), of which the first is the most famous. His works helped further the cause against violence, racism and injustice for African-Americans.
Dr. Kalenda Eaton (Introduction) is an Associate Professor in The Clara Luper Department of African and African American Studies at the University of Oklahoma. She studies the American west, the intersections of gender and Black literature, and Black social and cultural history. Eaton is noted for her writing, teaching and public scholarship on African Americans in the Great Plains region. Recent publications include the co-edited volume New Directions in Black Western Studies (2019) and ‘Teaching the Black West’ (with Michael Johnson in Teaching Western American Literature, 2020).
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