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Black History Pamphlets Collection
SPC.2022.064
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Contributing Institution:
California State University Dominguez Hills, Gerth Archives and Special Collections
Title: Black History Pamphlets Collection
Identifier/Call Number: SPC.2022.064
Physical Description:
.42 Linear Feet
Physical Description:
1 box
Date (inclusive): ca. 1890-2018
Condition Description: Amanda Smith notice placed in sleeve, Paul Robeson notice encapuslated. Some items worn, but no special handling instruction
needed.
Abstract: This collection contains pamphlets, ephemera, booklets, joutrnals, comic books, and other materials related to Black history
in the last 200 years. Subjects include slavery, economics, Black/White relations, as well as noted Black figures, including
Rev. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Anglea Davis, Huey Newton, Paul Robeson, C.L.R. James, and Amanda Smith. Publications
include Black journals, zines, and comic books introducing Black superheroes.
Language of Material:
English
.
This material covers a wide range of issues related to Black history over the last 200 years. While some of the work is scholarly,
and takes a retrospective, historical view, much of it is contemprary with the issues discussed. The historical materials
includes two published essays by noted American Marxist historian Herbert Aptheker, regarding labor and slavery in the American
south: one talks about labor in general, while the other rebuts many of the claims of a 1974 book Aptheker felt presented
a pro-slavery viewpoint.
The largest portion of materials deal with Black rights, with much of the material covering the period from World War II to
the 1980s. These include communist and capitalist viewpoints and critiques of political and labor movements, along with overviews
of Black rights and equality with Whites.
The Noted Figures section focuses on some of the key figures in recent and distant Black history. These include appreciations
of Martin Luther King and political activity done in his name, a retrospective of Malcolm X published two years after his
assassination, and a 1968 essay by Huey Newton about the state of the Black Movement, published by Students for a Democratic
Society.
There are several items related to Paul Robeson, including a reprint of his s 1950 speech about Negro-Labor unity, delivered
at the national Labor Conference for Negro Rights. There is also a publication protesting the injustice of Robeson's passport
being revoked in 1950. A related item is the full-page reprint of an ad taken out by the National Ad Hoc Committee to End
the Crimes Against Paul Robeson, a collection of Black actors, writers, academics, and activists, protesting the play "Paul
Robeson" in 1978.
There is also an undated program for an appearance by the celebrated Black evangelist Amada Smith, probably around 1890.
Periodicals include a copy of the Black Politician, discussing varied issues (notable especially as longtime California politician
Mervyn Dymally served as Editor-in-Chief; a zine about the Black Panther party, and a collection of Black poetry. The two
comic books represent early efforts to introduce Black superheroes into mainstream comics: Captain Confederacy and Black Lightning
(notable for being the first Black member of the DC comcic Justice League of America).
This is expected to be a growing collection.
Therte are no access restrictions on this collection.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Director of Archives
and Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical
materials and not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.
For information about citing archival material, see the
Citations for Archival Material guide, or consult the appropriate style manual.
This collection was processed by Tom Philo in July, 2022.
Arranged in six series:
Series I: Black Life. 1944-1979
Series II: Black Rights. 1947-1984
Series III: Slavery. 1942-1974
Series IV: Economics. 1970-1992
Series V: Noted Figures. ca. 1890-2018
Series VI: Black Publications. 1970-2018
Subjects and Indexing Terms
African Americans -- Politics and government
African Americans -- Comic books, strips, etc
African Americans -- Civil rights
Equality
Racism
Anti-racism
Labor movement
Communism -- United States -- History -- 20th century
Slavery -- United States -- History
African Americans -- Poetry
King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968
X, Malcolm, 1925-1965
Davis, Angela Y. (Angela Yvonne ), 1944-
Jackson, Jesse, 1941-
Black Panther Party
Newton, Huey P.
Robeson, Paul, 1898-1976