Page 280 - Swann Galleries - Printed & Manuscript African Americana- Sale 2308 - March 21, 2013

521 ● (RACISM.) [CARROLL, CHARLES.] The Negro a Beast, or “In the
Image of God.” Large illustrated brochure made from a single folio sheet, folded to form
four large 4to pages, printed in black and red on all sides with engraved vignettes; the poor
quality paper is evenly toned; a couple of archival repairs at the outer folds, otherwise a
remarkable survival of a fragile piece.
St. Louis: American Book and Bible House, circa 1900 [1,000/1,500]
A RARE AND ELABORATE BROCHURE, ADVERTISING CHARLES CARROLL’S RACIST CLAS-
SIC. Coming at the end of the 19th century, the book was immensely popular with those who
needed a rationale for their post-slavery, post Reconstruction racist beliefs. Carroll’s arguments
fall under the exotic categories of monogenism and polygenism, “supported” of course by the
Bible. The brochure is peppered with bizarre questions referencing Genesis like “Whom did
Cain Marry?” and “Does ‘like beget like? . . . If the Negro is human, then he is of the same
blood and flesh as Adam and Eve, for Adam was the only representative of God. Now if
Adam and Eve are the parents of the Negro, you cannot get around the fact that you have
Negro blood in your veins . . . —Would your neighbors associate with you?” He reasons that
since we’re certain there’s no way we could have a single drop of Negro blood flowing in our
white veins, the Negro cannot then be descended from Adam and Eve——and therefore he is
not human. The rear cover of this flyer is filled with testimonials, may from clergymen, under
the heading “What Men of Brains Think of This Book,” like this man of brains, “Reverend
Isaac Turley of Texas, who says “God bless Bro. Carroll. He has sounded a note that will fill
the world with melody.” Though “Bro. Carroll’s” book was quite popular, going through several
editions, is scarce today. OCLC cites only a single copy of this brochure.