Aboard a train heading out of minneapolis toward frontier north dakota, era bell thompson in her autobiography american daughter 1946 describes a landscape that grows steadily bleaker with each mile farther west. Following the publication of her early autobiography american daughter 1946, which she wrote while holding a newberry library fellowship, john h. A north dakota daughter by kathie ryckman anderson era bell thompson, a leading black woman journalist, was not born in north dakota, and has not lived in the state since 1931. From the negro trailblazers of california delilah leontium. Suddenly there was snowmiles and miles of dull, white snow, stretching out to meet the heavy, gray sky.
Midwest chicago autobiography race 20th century african american history. Johnson hired her in 1947 as associate editor of ebony. Era bell thompson, an author and longtime editor at ebony magazine, was found dead in her home here tuesday, said herbert nipson, executive editor of the magazine. In fact, when the thompsons traveled thrity miles to join two other black families for christmas dinner, there were fifteen of us. By the time that era bell thompson wrote to stanley pargellis, newberry librarian from 194265, to apply for a fellowship in midwestern studies in 1944, she had already been living in chicago for over a decade. Published in 1946, it is entitled american daughter. Harsh research collection unveiled the era bell thompson. In 1945 thompson she received a fellowship to write her autobiography, american daughter, which was released the following year. Era bell thompson former international editor of ebony magazine, era bell thompson 10 august 190530 december 1986 grew up a child of the only black family in driscoll, north dakota. She was also a recipient of the governor of north dakotas roughrider award. Era bell thompson was an accomplished author, magazine editor and journalist whose work spanned numerous datelines.
Black north dakotans were indeed something of a rarity in 1914, when young erabelle thompson and her family moved to a farm near the small community of. Land of my fathers era bell thompsons midwestern vision of the african diaspora michael j. Significant research in the archives of chicagos carter g. She notes that hurston and thompson both represent the first. Zora neale hurston and era bell thompson, braxton pairs dust tracks on a road 1942 and american daughter. American daughter author era bell thompson black north dakotans were something of a rarity in 1914 when young era bell and her family moved to a farm near the small community of driscoll. Era bell thompson s american daughter, published in 1946 by the university of chicago press, is an autobiographical account of an african american woman who comes of age on the plains of north dakota in the early twentieth century. Utilizing thompson s life and published works against the backdrop of complex and at. Era bell thompson, author of american daughter and africa, land of my fathers. Observations of an american daughter on the american south. Affirming american meritocracy posted on november 10, 2016 by richard guzman nearly without fail, the excerpt from era bell thompson s american daughter, which i included in my book black writing from chicago, is my students favorite.
Unread and unranked aptly describes era bell thompson s american daughter, an. She served as the comanaging editor of this magazine from 1951 to 1964, at which. A copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. Excerpt from the autobiographical american daughter by era bell thompson. Lansing bio for weeks, as she traveled through liberia, the gold coast ghana, the belgian congo democratic republic of congo, and rhodesia zambia and zimbabwe, ebony reporter era bell thompson heard stories about. In her introduction to american womens autobiography.
Letters from era bell thompson to stanley pargellis, 1944. Thompson then joined the johnson publishing company in chicago and worked as an associate editor of its publication, negro digest. This strange white world race and place in era bell. American daughter, thompson tells of having a disagreement with her mother. Daughter of north dakotathe country god forgot thompson left the great plains of her youth for chicago in 1933. American daughter borealis books by era bell thompson. Era bell thompson black north dakotans were indeed something of a rarity in 1914, when young era bell thompson and her family moved to a farm near the small community of driscoll. American daughter black north dakotans were indeed something of a rarity in 1914, when young era bell thompson and her family moved to a farm near the small community of driscoll. Thompson was born on august 10, 1905 in des moines, iowa, the only daughter of steward tony thompson and mary logan. In fact, when the thompsons traveled thrity miles to join two other black families. Era bell thompson, author of american daughter and africa, land of my fathers, was a pioneering photojournalist for ebony and international editor for johnson publishing company for more than 30 years.
It deserves to read and included in great plains studies because it recounts one of the rarest of american experiences. Three years later, when era s mother died, the family moved initially to mandan, nd, where she attended mandan high school in 192223. Former international editor of ebony magazine, era bell thompson grew up in north dakota. American daughter borealis books era bell thompson on. American daughter is a story of growing up in the west and middle west that is moving, human, positive, triumphant. A textual analysis of her autobiography, american daughter 1946, travel narrative, africa, land of my fathers 1954 that includes a comparison to richard. There might have been a mention of estevan, slavery, or the dred scott decision, but the rich and varied experience of african americans on the great plains went largely unnoted. Letters from era bell thompson to stanley pargellis, 1944, 1953. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. There her search for friends among both negroes and whites brought growing awareness of the common problems of minorities. Harsh research collection of afro american history and. This noted journalist and author has written several books, including american daughter, which tells the story of her youth in north dakota.
Aboard a train heading out of minneapolis toward frontier north dakota, era bell thompson in her autobiography american daughter 1946 describes a landscape that grows steadily bleaker with each mile. Her father, steward or tony, as he was called brought his family to north dakota so he could be a farmer. Era bell thompson north dakota office of the governor. Thompson s unique childhood on the great plains of north dakota and her longtime residence in chicago offer a new perspective on race and.
Feasts of memory, margo culley writes, it would be hard to point to a field of contemporary literary studies more vibrant than autobiography studies. Era bell thompson was born on august 10, 1905 in des moines, ia and moved with her family to a farm near driscoll, nd in 1914 when she was 9 years old. In this lively autobiography, thompson describes the experiences of her north dakota girlhood. This item appears in the collection race, respectability, and resilience. Religion, idealism, and african american autobiography in. Her grandparents had been enslaved on a southern farm. Remembering the accomplishments of a local trailblazer. Tho mpson was born on august 10, 1905 in des moines, iowa, t he only d aughter of s teward tony thompson and mary logan. American daughter recalled her childhood in north dakota. Where else does one find a wealth of primary material still mostly unread and unranked. Black north dakotans were something of a rarity in 1914 when youn.
Come share with me what i experienced by learning about a true american daughter, era bell thompson. Note the third paragraph on page 102 that starts, in school i was learning many things note the third paragraph on page 102 that starts, in school i was learning many things. After the success of her autobiography, american daughter 1946, thompson began working for publishing tycoon john h. Harsh research collection of afroamerican history and literature. Era bell thompson was born on august 10, 1905 in des moines, iowa and moved with her family to a farm near driscoll, nd in 1914 when she was 9 years old. She and her three brothers were excited about the move, because they expected cowboys and indians. Black north dakotans were something of a rarity in 1914 when young era bell and her family moved to a farm near the small community of driscoll. Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. Description this dissertation examines and elevates the life and work of era bell thompson, an obscure 20th century black american writer and journalist. She was also an important figure in the chicago renaissance. Era bell thompson is the author of american daughter 3. In this lively autobiography, thompson describes the experiences of her girlhood. Era bell thompson american periodical editor and nonfiction writer.
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