After reading about me and my 6-year book project in the pages of The Washington Post, Newsweek, Vanity Fair, Ebony and Reader's Digest, some of you have emailed me regarding my upcoming political biography.
Next month, I will be traveling on a 10-city publicity tour for the paperback launch of my book, The Senator and The Socialite, which is a biography of Senator Blanche Bruce, the first black to serve a full term in the U.S. Senate. This book is timely as the nation watches Senator Barack Obama's race to become the first black President. Whether the victor is my Chappaqua neighbor Senator Hillary Clinton, or Senator Obama or one of the other candidates, many Americans are fascinated by the rise of the African American politician in national politics. My new book explores that history by beginning with the incredible story of Blanche Bruce, who was born a slave and then became a wealthy Mississippi landowner before finally being elected to the U.S. Senate.
During the next few days, my publisher HarperCollins will begin to post my TV, radio, print and in-store appearances. I will list them here early next month because I hope that you will tune in, buy the book, or come meet me as I appear in book stores in various cities.
Whomever you are supporting in the 2008 Presidential race, I hope that "The Senator and The Socialite" will further illustrate the way in which race, politics and class intersect in national politics both today and in the past.
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6 comments:
I recently listened to an archived episode of "This American Life" and had the opportunity to hear your piece about going undercover at the Greenwich Country Club. Your piece was both entertaining and infuriating at the same time (though it didn't surprise me that such racism still exists in our society). Though your experience was in 1992, I am very interested to know if Greenwich Country Club has done anything to fix their image or changed their policies, especially in regards to their awfully-named "Monkey House."
What sort of response did you receive when New York Magazine published your story?
Thank you so much for sharing that story.
Hae Eun Park
Look forward to your arrival in Minneapolis (Mpls) Mr Graham. You'd be surprised at how many blacks live here. Mostly from Chicago. Many arrived in the last 15-20 years for a more liberal welfare compensation. A lot are stuck because of the poor job market compounded by the illegal immigration. Best Wishes
Martin
Hello Mr. Graham,
In researching a book I am currently writing I came across that fact that Blanche Bruce started the first Black school in Missouri. I was wondering if you know more about this. Also, I found a Blanche K. Bruce in the 1920 census. I know it's not this Blanche K. Bruce. But I am almost sure it's a relative. In 1920 this other Blanche Bruce was 39 years old and living in Missouri, Peno County/Township. He's listed as "Black" and married, living with his in-laws.
Mr. Graham, I truly enjoyed reading "The Senator and the Socialite". I was wondering if you have ever considered pitching an idea for a documentary series for the History Channel on the American black elite, which would include Senator Bruce's family. It would be a wonderful program that would educate Americans of all races about the contributions of the black elite to our country.
Dear Mr. Graham,
I have just found a recent obituary of a great-grandaughter of Senator Bruce:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B00E7DD103AF93BA1575BC0A96F9C8B63
Her name is Roberta Bruce Delaney, the daughter of Roscoe Conkling Bruce Jr. She passed away in 2009. You can also find her on Google in case this link doesn't take you there directly. She left 3 children and 2 grandchildren, and also had 4 siblings. So it looks like there are descendants of the Bruce family still remaining.
Dear Mr. Graham,
I have just found a recent obituary of a great-grandaughter of Senator Bruce:
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B00E7DD103AF93BA1575BC0A96F9C8B63
Her name is Roberta Bruce Delaney, the daughter of Roscoe Conkling Bruce Jr. She passed away in 2009. You can also find her on Google in case this link doesn't take you there directly. She left 3 children and 2 grandchildren, and also had 4 siblings. So it looks like there are descendants of the Bruce family still remaining.
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