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The first biography of George Walker, a uniquely Afro-American tale of innovation and triumph despite the odds; the story of an underdog with a bite!
The Rediscovery of George "Nash" Walker is the first biography dedicated to the life and cultural contributions of this actor, writer, and producer who revolutionized Black American theatre during the early twentieth century. In 1892, Walker left his hometown with a medicine show and quickly formed a partnership with comedian Bert Williams that would last nearly eighteen years. Under the moniker of "The Two Real Coons," Williams and Walker used their comedy to erode the stereotyped White image of minstrel-style "cooning." Their theatrical company produced many popular plays, including Clorindy/A Lucky Coon (1899–1900), Policy Players (1900–1901), Sons of Ham (1901–1902), In Dahomey (1902–1905), Abyssinia (1905–1906), Bandanna Land (1907–1909), and Mr. Lode of Koal (1909–1910), even performing on Broadway and abroad. An activist at heart, Walker insisted that audiences receive carefully curated Black entertainment, told from a uniquely Afro-American perspective. Unfortunately, Walker contracted syphilis and was forced to retire in 1909, marking the end of the first golden age of Black theatre. Despite his landmark contributions, Walker's story has been largely forgotten. Drawing on archival resources, newspaper accounts, memoirs, oral histories, and manifestos written by Walker, this book celebrates the accomplishments of the vanguard generation of Black artists who were active between the close of the Civil War and the start of World War I.
"A stunning achievement: impressively researched, a model of historical recovery, and a book that adds immensely to the understanding of the roots of American theater." — Harvey Young, editor of the Cambridge Companion to African American Theatre
"Atkinson's literary biography is ambitious in its scope, demystifying Walker and his mystifying activity and influence, and raises the level of telling a story." — Eric M. Glover, author of African-American Perspectives in Musical Theatre
"The life and accomplishments of George Walker have long been underappreciated. Atkinson's work is an important contribution to the literature about Black musical theater of a century ago. The documentation is exhaustive and the illustrations are superb. Congratulations!" — Thomas L. Riis, author of Just Before Jazz: Black Musical Theatre in New York, 1890 to 1915
"The fact that there has never been a proper biography of George Walker is sort of insane. In the history of Black American popular culture, he is the definition of seminal. We're fortunate that Daniel E. Atkinson has now tackled the project with thoroughness, insight, and verve. Current scholars can learn from this book, and future scholars will build on it." — John Sullivan, contributing writer, The New York Times Magazine
"The careful and creative research in this page-turning and beautifully illustrated biography demonstrates how much we can know about the glorious and tragic life of a deeply important African American genius. This is a major contribution to the study of race, of business, of popular culture, and of the larger US history in which Atkinson impressively contextualizes Walker's story." — David Roediger, Foundation Professor of American Studies at the University of Kansas and author of How Race Survived U.S. History: From Settlement and Slavery to the Obama Phenomenon
"This fascinating book shines a light on one of the lesser-known but most consequential Black entertainers of the early twentieth century. Why haven't we heard more about him? Probably because he lived a rather short life and has been in the shadow of his more famous partner, comedian Bert Williams. Immaculately researched, Atkinson's account brings George Walker and his world vividly to life, following the talented Black singer and dancer as he fought for Black equality in the oppressive Jim Crow world that was America in the early 1900s." — Tim Brooks, author of Lost Sounds: Blacks and the Birth of the Recording Industry, 1890–1919
Acknowledgments
List of Abbreviations
Acknowledgments
Introduction
Part One: The Start
1. Growing Up Radical: 1865 to 1891
2. Partners in Double Consciousness: 1892 to 1893
3. Go East, Young Men: 1895 to 1896
4. Honing the Act: 1896 to 1897
Part Two: The Stride
5. Cake Walks and Culture: 1898
6. As I See You on the Stage: 1899 to 1900
7. "Only Just Butting In": 1900 to 1902
8. Broadway, the Hard Way: 1902 to 1903
9. "I Needn't Be Scared of No King": 1903 to 1904
10. The Royal Strut: 1904 to 1905
Part Three: The Struggle
11. The Abyss: 1905 to 1907
12. "Bon Bon Buddy": 1907 to 1908
13. Who's Leavin' Who? 1908 to 1909
14. You Never Miss the Water... : 1909 to 1911
15.... 'Til the Well Runs Dry
Appendix
Notes
Bibliography
Index