Imperium in Imperio

Written in 1899, Grigg’s moving, terrifying book describes the Jim Crow era life of a black man inhabiting a living dystopia. Belton Piedmont is from a poor background, he works hard to become educated but is subjected to the full range of discrimination and racism as he grows older. At the point where he has lost all hope he is introduced to the notion of a shadow state, ‘Imperium in Imperio’, a utopia where black people are treated equally and attempt to bring their values into the heart of government in Texas, altering his life forever. Grigg’s unflinching narrative explores nationalism, civil disobedience, voter suppression, poverty and education, all still familiar themes today. AUTHOR: Sutton Elbert Griggs (1872 1933) is a key voice in African-American literature, history and proto-science fiction. He was an author, Baptist minister, newspaper publisher and social activist, who wrote social and religious tracts as well as numerous books, such as his novels Imperium in Imperio (1899), Overshadowed (1901) and The Hindered Hand; or, The Reign of the Repressionist (1905), of which the first is the most famous. His works helped further the cause against violence, racism and injustice for African-Americans.