Contents

Prologue

CHAPTERS

1OLD SCHOOL NEGRO

1909–1914

2THE SOUTHERN CROSSES THE YELLOW DOG

1914–1925

3BANQUETS AND COCAINE BALLS

1925–1928

4GRAY CITY OF EXILED MEN

1928–1936

5WHITE FOLKS AND THE DAYS

1936–1941

6RUIN OF THE GOLDEN DREAM

1941–1944

7TRYING TO WIN A HOME

1944–1945

8MONKEY AN’ THE LION

1946–1948

9INFLICTING A WOUND UPON HIMSELF

1948–1952

10CADILLACS TO COTTON SACKS

1952–1954

11OTHELLO

1954–1955

12A PISTOL IN HIS HAND, AGAIN

1955–1959

13FIVE CORNERED SQUARE

1959–1962

14COTTON COMES TO HARLEM

1963–1965

15A MOOR IN SPAIN

1965–1972

16AFRO-AMERICAN PEOPLE’S NOVELIST

1972–1984

 

Notes

Acknowledgments

Index