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The Senator and the Socialite: The True Story of America's First Black Dynasty

lawrence otis graham

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This is the true story of America's first black dynasty. The years after the Civil War represented an astonishing moment of opportunity for African-Americans. The rush to build a racially democratic society from the ruins of slavery is never more evident than in the personal history of Blanche Kelso Bruce and his heirs.

Born a slave in 1841, Bruce became a local Mississippi sheriff, developed a growing Republican power base, amassed a real-estate fortune, and became the first black to serve a full Senate term. He married Josephine Willson, the daughter of a wealthy black Philadelphia doctor. Together they broke racial barriers as a socialite couple in 1880s Washington, D.C.

By befriending President Ulysses S. Grant, abolitionist Frederick Douglass, and a cadre of liberal black and white Republicans, Bruce spent six years in the U.S. Senate, then gained appointments under four presidents (Garfield, Arthur, Harrison, and McKinley), culminating with a top Treasury post, which placed his name on all U.S. currency.

During Reconstruction, the Bruce family entertained lavishly in their two Washington town houses and acquired an 800-acre plantation, homes in four states, and a fortune that allowed their son and grandchildren to attend Phillips Exeter Academy and Harvard University, beginning in 1896.

The Senator's legacy would continue with his son, Roscoe, who became both a protégé of Booker T. Washington and a superintendent of Washington, D.C.'s segregated schools. When the family moved to New York in the 1920s and formed an alliance with John D. Rockefeller Jr., the Bruces became an enviable force in Harlem society. Their public battle to get their grandson admitted into Harvard University's segregated dormitories elicited the support of people like W. E. B. Du Bois and Franklin D. Roosevelt, and broke brave new ground for blacks of their day.

But in the end, the Bruce dynasty's wealth and stature would disappear when the Senator's grandson landed in prison following a sensational trial and his Radcliffe-educated granddaughter married a black Hollywood actor who passed for white.

By drawing on Senate records, historic documents, and the personal letters of Senator Bruce, Josephine, their colleagues, friends, children, and grandchildren, author Lawrence Otis Graham weaves a riveting social history that spans 120 years. From Mississippi to Washington, D.C., to New York, The Senator and the Socialite provides a fascinating look into the history of race and class in America.

480 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,2006
Places
the united states of america, 

This edition

Format
480 pages, Hardcover
Published
June 27, 2006 by Harper
ISBN
9780060184124
ASIN
0060184124
Language
English
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lawrence otis graham

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Rating(4 / 5.0, 44 votes)
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Profile Image for Kimberly .
helios90
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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such an interesting book on America's first black dynasty... blanche bruce went from slavery to the first african american to be elected into senate, then the treasury... beyond amazing that a former slave was now signing every dollar bill in the united states.
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sassssssf
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Great bio. Almost read like a novel (makes the fact that it's a true story even sweeter)
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AlmightyRoadkill
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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Wow. One of the best books I have ever read. This book has everything: a lot of history, a great story, and so many things to really make you think. The people of the Bruce dynasty are very polarizing people. They're elitist and condescending on one hand, but also live in a very difficult period that is full of racism and limited opportunities. They are also a part of a really small circle of the "black elite" so not many people can really relate to their struggles, and it's not a perspective that I've heard that often.

It's a thick book and kind of a slower read if you want to take it all in, but I loved every moment.
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calvo99
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 17,2025
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I learned so much. Definitely glad I invested time ro learn about this family. Highly recommend.
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