Of One Blood: Or, the Hidden Self

by Pauline Elizabeth Hopkins

Book Overview

An uncanny tale of identity, race, and spirituality by groundbreaking Black author Pauline Hopkins

When medical student Reuel Briggs reluctantly attends a performance by the beautiful singer Dianthe Lusk, he can't help but fall for her. The very next day, their paths cross again when Dianthe's train crashes. To bring her back from the brink of death, Reuel draws on an eerie power he can't quite name. Soon, the two are engaged,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1464215065
• ISBN13: 9781464215063
• Release Date: February 2021
• Publisher: Poisoned Pen Press
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Grade: A-

In "Of One Blood" the author enlightens the reader about Ethiopian history(especially in 1903 when very few in America knew anything about African history)while educating African Americans of her time about a larger African world and a deep historical past. Critics have attempted to shoot her down with arrows called "Afro-romanticsm" and "Afrocentrity". Some have tried to negate her achievement by saying that by simply paying homage to Ethiopia's historical achievements in technology, culture, and literature she was advocating for 19th century Darwinistic values that said technology measured a civilization's progression. This is unfair, because Darwin did not invent that concept: power (be it technological or cultural) is revered throughout the world. By such a rationale, then any person of African descent cannot talk about technological achievements of Africans without being a victim of Darwinist ideals. There is only one truth...technology is impressive, and it will always be this way. Thus for Hopkins to want to acknowledge African achievements and educate her readers she is not saying ALL civilization should be measured by these standards, but that technological achievement is a part of the African past just as it is a part of other cultures. Her reason for focusing on Ethiopia is most related to the dominate African American religion, Christianity, and Ethiopia's pre-Roman Christian heritage.