The Rediscovery of George 'Nash' Walker : The Price of Black Stardom in Jim Crow America

Atkinson, Daniel E.

State University of New York Press（2025/09発売）

• 製本 Paperback:紙装版/ペーパーバック版／ページ数 434 p.
• 言語 ENG
• 商品コード 9798855803181
• DDC分類 B

Full Description

The first biography of George Walker, a uniquely Afro-American tale of innovation and triumph despite the odds; the story of an underdog with a bite!

The Rediscovery of George "Nash" Walker is the first biography dedicated to the life and cultural contributions of this actor, writer, and producer who revolutionized Black American theatre during the early twentieth century. In 1892, Walker left his hometown with a medicine show and quickly formed a partnership with comedian Bert Williams that would last nearly eighteen years. Under the moniker of "The Two Real Coons," Williams and Walker used their comedy to erode the stereotyped White image of minstrel-style "cooning." Their theatrical company produced many popular plays, including Clorindy/A Lucky Coon (1899-1900), Policy Players (1900-1901), Sons of Ham (1901-1902), In Dahomey (1902-1905), Abyssinia (1905-1906), Bandanna Land (1907-1909), and Mr. Lode of Koal (1909-1910), even performing on Broadway and abroad. An activist at heart, Walker insisted that audiences receive carefully curated Black entertainment, told from a uniquely Afro-American perspective. Unfortunately, Walker contracted syphilis and was forced to retire in 1909, marking the end of the first golden age of Black theatre. Despite his landmark contributions, Walker's story has been largely forgotten. Drawing on archival resources, newspaper accounts, memoirs, oral histories, and manifestos written by Walker, this book celebrates the accomplishments of the vanguard generation of Black artists who were active between the close of the Civil War and the start of World War I.

Contents

Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Acknowledgments

Introduction

Part One: The Start

1. Growing Up Radical: 1865 to 1891

2. Partners in Double Consciousness: 1892 to 1893

3. Go East, Young Men: 1895 to 1896

4. Honing the Act: 1896 to 1897

Part Two: The Stride

5. Cake Walks and Culture: 1898

6. As I See You on the Stage: 1899 to 1900

7. "Only Just Butting In": 1900 to 1902

8. Broadway, the Hard Way: 1902 to 1903

9. "I Needn't Be Scared of No King": 1903 to 1904

10. The Royal Strut: 1904 to 1905

Part Three: The Struggle

11. The Abyss: 1905 to 1907

12. "Bon Bon Buddy": 1907 to 1908

13. Who's Leavin' Who? 1908 to 1909

14. You Never Miss the Water... : 1909 to 1911

15.... 'Til the Well Runs Dry

Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index