Description
"The Original Black Elite: Daniel Murray and the Story of a Forgotten Era" (Amistad/Harper Collins, 2017) presents the story of Daniel Murray, a pioneer in the black history movement, a founder of the Afro-American Council (forerunner of the NAACP), and a prominent member of Washington DC's black elite. In focusing on one remarkable activist and his family, the rise and disillusionment of the black elite over Murray's 1851-1925 lifespan are illuminated. The book illuminates the evolution, with the hardening of the color line, of the U Street neighborhood where Murray's home was located in Northwest Washington. The U Street community was the heart of black Washington and the rich and vibrant culture that flourished there. It also highlights his tenure at the Library of Congress, where Murray worked from 1871 until his retirement in 1922, his close association with Librarian of Congress Ainsworth Spofford, and includes President Woodrow Wilson's efforts to segregate white and black federal employees. It also focuses on the notable roles of Murray's wife and sons. Anna Evans Murray was an activist in her own right, springing from a family with a long and notable history of antislavery activism. While attending Cornell University, the Murray's son Nathaniel and six fellow students founded the first black college fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha. Spring 2014 to Fall 2014, Summer 2016
