Can Anything Beat White?: A Black Family's Letters (Margaret Walker Alexander Series in African American Studies)

Ann Petry (1908-1997) achieved prominence during a period in which few black women were published with regularity in America. Her novels Country Place (1947) and The Narrows (1988), along with various short stories and nonfiction, poignantly described the struggles and triumphs of middle-class blacks living in primarily white communities. Petry's ancestors, the James family, served as in-spiration for much of her fiction. This collection of more than four hundred family letters, edited by the daughter of Ann Petry, is an engaging portrait of black family life from the 1890s to the early twentieth century, a period not often documented by African American voices. Ann Petry's maternal grandfather, Willis Samuel James, was a slave taught by his children to read and write. He believed "the best place for the negro is as near the white man as he can get." He followed that "truth," working as coachman for a Connecticut governor and buying a house in a white neighborhood in Hartford. Willis had sixteen children by three wives. The letters in this collection are from him and his second wife, Anna E. Houston James, and five of Anna's children, of whom novelist Ann Petry's mother, Bertha James Lane, was the oldest. History is made and remade by the availability of new documents, sources, and interpretations. Can Anything Beat White? contributes a great deal to this process. The experiences of the James family as documented in their letters challenge both representations of black people at the turn of the century as well as our contemporary sense of black Americans. Elisabeth Petry is a freelance writer with a juris doctor from the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Middletown, Connecticut, and is the author of At Home Inside: A Daughter's Tribute to Ann Petry, published by University Press of Mississippi. Ann Petry (1908-1997) Was A Prominent African American Writer During A Period In Which Few Black Women Were Published With Regularity In America. Her Novels Country Place (1947) And The Narrows (1988), Along With Various Short Stories And Nonfiction, Poignantly Described The Struggles And Triumphs Of Middle-class Blacks Living In Primarily White Communities. Perry's Ancestors, The James Family, Served As Inspiration For Much Of Her Fiction. This Collection Of More Than Four Hundred Family Letters, Edited By The Daughter Of Ann Perry, Is An Engaging Portrait Of Black Family Life From The 1890s To The Early Twentieth Century, A Period Not Often Documented By African American Voices. History Is Made And Remade By The Availability Of New Documents, Sources And Interpretations. Can Anything Beat White? Contributes A Great Deal To This Process. The Experiences Of The James Family As Documented In Their Letters Challenge Representations Of Black People At The Turn Of The Century As Well As Our Contemporary Sense Of Black Americans.--jacket. Surviving The Patterrollers -- The Surrogate Mother -- The Wanderer -- Consumed By Life -- Getting Along Swimmingly -- Setting The Stage -- Writing For Posterity From Hawaii -- Challenges At Atlanta University -- A Lark A Flyin' -- Achieving A Dream. [edited By] Elisabeth Petry. MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict MuPDF error: syntax error: invalid key in dict Contents 8 Introduction 10 Acknowledgments 22 Prologue 24 Chapter 1. Surviving the Patterrollers 34 Chapter 2. The Surrogate Mother 53 Chapter 3. The Wanderer 72 Chapter 4. Consumed by Life 98 Chapter 5. Getting Along Swimmingly 124 Chapter 6. Setting the Stage 147 Chapter 7. Writing for Posterity from Hawaii 168 Chapter 8. Challenges at Atlanta University 195 Chapter 9. A Lark a Flyin’ 204 Chapter 10. Achieving a Dream 212 Postscript 225 Contents......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 22 Prologue......Page 24 Chapter 1. Surviving the Patterrollers......Page 34 Chapter 2. The Surrogate Mother......Page 53 Chapter 3. The Wanderer......Page 72 Chapter 4. Consumed by Life......Page 98 Chapter 5. Getting Along Swimmingly......Page 124 Chapter 6. Setting the Stage......Page 147 Chapter 7. Writing for Posterity from Hawaii......Page 168 Chapter 8. Challenges at Atlanta University......Page 195 Chapter 9. A Lark a Flyin’......Page 204 Chapter 10. Achieving a Dream......Page 212 Postscript......Page 225 Willis S. James's only legacy to his children and grandchildren from his years as a slave was a nursery rhyme that he sang as he bounced them on his knee, "Run, little baby, run.