The Original Black Elite: Daniel Murray and the Story of a Forgotten Era

The Murrays' Rise and Fall: A Cultural Biography of Black Elite in America is a groundbreaking book that sheds light on an overlooked chapter in American history - the inspiring rise and calculated fall of the black elite from Emancipation through Reconstruction to the Jim Crow Era.

Through the lens of influential figure Daniel Murray, this book reveals how education and equal opportunities could have been realized by African Americans during this time.

Elizabeth Dowling Taylor's meticulous research uncovers the disillusionment of upper-class African Americans as they faced crushing Jim Crow segregation and government capitulation to white supremacist groups, ultimately leading to their downfall.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, race relations, and the struggle for equality.