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Sutton Elbert Griggs
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Imperium in Imperio (Black Narratives) Paperback – June 8, 2021

by Sutton E. Griggs (Author), Mint Editions (Contributor)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 58 ratings
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Imperium in Imperio (1899) is a novel by Sutton E. Griggs. Written while Sutton was at the beginning of his career as a Baptist minister, Imperium in Imperio was sold door to door and earned modest praise upon publication. Although Griggs’ novels were largely forgotten by the mid-twentieth century, scholars have recently sought to emphasize his role as an activist and author involved with the movement for Black nationalism in the United States. Critics since have recognized Griggs as a pioneering political figure and author whose utopian themes and engagement with contemporary crises constitute some of the era’s most radical literary efforts by an African American writer. Born and raised in rural Virginia, Belton Piedmont knows the struggle of the poor Black American firsthand. In school, he befriends Bernard Belgrave, a young boy from a wealthier family who ends up enrolling in Harvard, leaving his roots for the center of American success. Although Belton remains behind, he devotes himself to activism and receives a check from an anti-lynching politician allowing him to attend college in Nashville. On campus, he gains a reputation for his radical politics, organizing acts of civil disobedience in order to oppose the segregation and inequality rampant at the institution. When a lynch mob leaves him gravely wounded, he wakes up on an operating table in a panic and accidentally kills his physician. His trial gains national attention, earning him the support of his old friend Bernard and his prominent political allies, who help Belton appeal his case. Years later, Bernard receives a cryptic invitation to Waco, Texas, where he finds Belton waiting for him. A group of Black nationalists have established a functional shadow state, and intend to use their power to secede from the Union.

Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.

With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

Previous page
  1. Print length
    144 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Mint Editions
  4. Publication date
    June 8, 2021
  5. Dimensions
    5 x 0.34 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1513296795
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1513296791
  8. See all details
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From the Back Cover

Born to an industrious Black family in Virginia, Belton Piedmont befriends Bernard Belgrave at school. As Bernard enrolls at Harvard, Belton remains in the South and devotes himself to activism. Years later, the two old friends meet again as comrades in a Black nationalist shadow state operating out of Texas. Imperium in Imperio is a novel by Sutton E. Griggs.

About the Author

Sutton E. Griggs (1872-1933) was an African American novelist, activist, and Baptist minister. Born in Chatfield, Texas, Griggs was the second of eight children. His father, Rev. Allen R. Griggs, was a former slave who became an influential minister and founded the first newspaper and high school for African Americans in Texas. Upon graduating from Bishop College and Richmond Theological Seminary, Griggs followed in his father’s footsteps to become a pastor in Berkley, Virginia, where he married Emma Williams in 1897. In 1899, while serving as pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in East Nashville, Griggs published his novel Imperium in Imperio, a powerful story of a separate African American state. Recognized as a pioneering work of utopian literature and science fiction, the novel launched Griggs’ literary career and allowed him to open the Orion Publishing Company in 1901. Devoted to alleviating social issues within the Black community, Griggs supported the Niagara Movement and the NAACP, educated himself through the words of W. E. B. Du Bois, and advocated for both separatism and integration in his literary works. Towards the end of his life, having published several novels and dozens of political and religious pamphlets, Griggs devoted himself to his work in the Baptist Church, serving for 19 years as a pastor in Memphis and for one year as president of the American Baptist Theological Seminary.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mint Editions (June 8, 2021)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 144 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1513296795
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1513296791
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 5.9 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5 x 0.34 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 58 ratings

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Sutton Elbert Griggs

Sutton Elbert Griggs

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Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
4.3 out of 5
58 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Super Radical Black Nationalist Concept Story
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2019
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This story would still be too raw and radical for today's audiences if made into a film. Super surprising. Just as critical of white racism and Black colorism. I highly recommend. This version of the book had some layout and formatting issues (weirdness) but it's an incredibly powerful story. One of the most memorable stories I've ever read.
One person found this helpful
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Tina Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars There's still something we need to learn
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2018
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This book is a brilliant blend of fact and fiction in which it subtly tries to teach a lesson against racism and violence. Although it was written in 1899, there are still many things relevant to today
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James
3.0 out of 5 stars an interesting twist to these racially tense times
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2020
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I read literary fiction. The style and story of the book are simple. The conclusion of the story offers another perspective on "black lives matter" . . . an activist and constructive solution to the racial divide in the country. The proposed solution would have been worth a try.
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Tiffany
5.0 out of 5 stars excellent book
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2014
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I think this book explains the problems that face African Americans today. Hopefully, this book will help us to see that the only way African Americans can improve their status in this country would be by uniting and working towards a common goal.
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Billydeetee
5.0 out of 5 stars classically written.
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2014
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A primer on the internal conflict occurring in many black men's hearts. Am I black or am I American? Are the two mutually exclusive when it boils down to making a choice? Which more clearly defines me? Loved the book.
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alley
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read but it needs a close read
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2016
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Read this book for a college class and the amount of social commentary is phenomenal. It touches on so many issues that black people had in the 1890s. Excellent read but it needs a close read.
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Sharika
5.0 out of 5 stars Ordered it for a master's class and must say it is a great read! Provides insight into the establishment of black ...
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2015
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Book arrived in 2 days, brand new. Ordered it for a master's class and must say it is a great read! Provides insight into the establishment of black secret societies, HBCUs, and Fraternal Organizations.
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KIP
5.0 out of 5 stars Revolution or Accommodation?
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2015
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a classic written at the turn of the 20th century that deals with the issues of "freedom", segregation, colorism, classism and other issues facing Black America at that time.
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