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

Hello Everyone! I was unable to attend the June 10 meeting; however, Davita, the moderator jotted some notes which are shared below. The seven sexy sisters who attended are captured in the photo above (Looking Good, Ladies!) Of those, only three rated the book and I added my two cents in afterward. Davita mentioned the discussion was really good.

Once again the book was Daniel Murray and The Story of a Forgotten Era by Elizabeth Dowling Taylor.

Listed below are the ratings and our comments:

Aris - 3: The novel provided hope and knowledge regarding high society and also did a good job of sharing racial strife which is still occurring on many levels today.

LaShonda - 3: Enjoyed the historical information and the life of Daniel Murray and his family.

Phyllis - 3:

My Positive Points:

• The author does a wonderful job of capturing the settings, the places, the social climate, and the challenges/struggles of a certain segment of society.

• For Daniel Murray, a pioneer in the true sense of the word, and his counterparts, one quote from the book seemingly summed up their struggle: "The great attainments and great achievements of men have been not only won through sturdy struggle, but wrung of what men call an adverse fate, which is the best educator a man can have. A young man is not to seek a place made, but to make a place. Openings in life are things compelled, not things granted."

• It was also quite clear that Black Excellence cannot escape racial prejudice and bigotry. Nonetheless, it was an inspiring read that reiterates that Black people have always strived for achievement and excellence, regardless of the obstacles thrown in their way.

• I liked that she included women and their contributions as well as noting the accomplishments of other notable, unsung men in the novel.

My Negative Point:

• While meticulously researched and constructed, I struggled with the overabundance of characters and descriptions - it got to where I found it a tad bit exhausting; thus making some sections extremely difficult to push through.

Overall, it was a worthwhile read for history buffs and Reconstruction/Jim Crow era enthusiasts.

Davita - 3.75-4: Very informative and historical. Well written.

#books