Ben Burns and Era Bell Thompson were editors of the popular Negro Digest, Ebony and Jet magazines. Tom Dent edited the literary magazines Umbra and Nkombo. The three were active as editors (as well as writers) beginning in the 1940s and, Weissinger describes, played important parts in the change that has taken place in black intellectual life since then. In addition, these editors were bibliophiles who accumulated personal libraries containing many volumes, some rare, pertaining to black history, race relations, racial ideology and religion, or by black authors. The author briefly recounts the collecting history of each editor, pointing out choice volumes. In concluding this slim volume, he documents, using prevalence as a leading indicator, correspondences among these editors' selections. Every chapter contains reference notes. The 41-page bibliography is arranged into the categories of genre, geography, art and culture, political affairs, human rights, international affairs, race relations, social conditions, social life and customs, and social movements. Annotation 2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)
