Skip to main content Skip to search Skip to search

Biography & Autobiography Historical

- Abraham Beverley Walker

Lawyer, Lecturer, Activist

by (author) Peter Little

edited by Francis Mitchell

guest editor Virginia Houston

compiled by New World Publishing

Publisher
New World Publishing
Initial publish date
Nov 2019
Category
Historical, Social Activists, Asian & Asian American, African American & Black
  • Paperback / softback

    ISBN
    9781989564073
    Publish Date
    Nov 2019
    List Price
    $16.96

Add it to your shelf

Where to buy it

Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels

  • Reading age: 14 to 18

Description

The book is titled, Abraham Beverley Walker, Lawyer, Lecturer, Activist, and chronicles the life and work, as well as the systemic racism Dr. Walker faced as Canada’s first black lawyer, and first black magazine editor. He was one of eleven children of farming parents but excelled academically studying law at the National University in Washington, D.C., law at the Saint John Law School, as well as philosophy and several languages. Abraham Walker lived in the last half of the nineteenth century and was born in Kars, New Brunswick but spent his entire professional career (except for a year and a half) in Saint John. After several snubs by the local population and the local barristers association as well, he focused all of his efforts on the civil rights issue and then later on addressing the “negro problem” and it’s solution. He lectured extensively across North America promoting the African Civilization Movement, which advocated for an en-masse migration of learned and talented blacks to Africa, where they would set up a colony under British laws and customs. The eventual aim of the group was to civilize and Christianize the entire population of what was then referred to as the “Dark Continent”. His magazine, Neith, although itself a partial victim of prejudice, survived barely one year, publishing only five issues. The magazine dealt with race issues (about 40% of its content), history, philosophy, science, art, literature and a variety of other topics, with several prominent contributors. It was highly intellectual publication even by today’s standards. Despite all of his dreams, intellect and accomplishments, Walker has been relegated to the “dust-bin” of history. This story is unique in that there has not been another written exclusively about him. His magazine gets a two-page mention in Robin Winks, The Blacks in Canada, and little to no mention elsewhere. The author has relied almost exclusively on Walker’s surviving newspaper columns, pamphlets and lectures. Abraham Walker was a devout Christian and his message bears a striking resemblance to that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. who followed in his footsteps some fifty years later.

About the authors

Contributor Notes

BIOGRAPHY: PETER J. LITTLE (author of AB Walker)

Peter J. Little was born and raised in Saint John, New Brunswick and educated in its city public schools. After high school he attended the New Brunswick Community College and obtained a diploma in Chemical Engineering Technology and worked for the next forty years in the energy sector. First briefly with NB Power and then with Irving Refining, finishing his career as a Senior Production Planner.

Peter developed a keen interest in local history at a young age, being influenced by stories of by-gone days from his father and maternal grandfather. He began writing in the 1980’s, at first as a way of consolidating his own research and then as a freelance writer for the Reader Magazine, a Saturday Supplement of the Brunswick News group of papers. His writings have appeared in various publications, including the Evening Times Globe, the Telegraph Journal, the Kings County Record, Generations Magazine, the Officers Quarter and recently has been consulted several times for the Daily Gleaner feature, Forgotten New Brunswick.

The amateur historian has focused his sights most recently on telling untold stories from our past, stories of people who have fallen through the cracks in the floor of history; and Abraham Walker was one of those. A chance conversation led to an obsession, which resulted in the production of this book. In just under two years, Peter Little has elevated Abraham Beverley Walker from the ‘dustbin’ of history to the loftiest position afforded a citizen.

Seeking to “right a wrong”, Peter has pushed Abraham Walker’s story to the front and centre of the provincial discourse. Walker’s life and times have been the subject of three recent newspaper articles, several television and radio interviews and most recently, Walker has been the posthumous recipient of the Order of New Brunswick, the highest award that can be bestowed upon a citizen of the province.

Peter is a board member of the New Brunswick Black History Society and has lived in Quispamsis for the last four decades. He and his wife Susan have five children and twelve grandchildren.

Other titles by

- From Sorrow to Strength

:a Father's Story of Loss

edited by Jude Avery
editor-in-chief Francis Mitchell
guest editor Virginia Houston

- Three Centuries of Public Art: Volume II

New, Old and Forgotten

by (author) Barbara DeLory
maps by Janet Soley
managing editor Francis Mitchell
associate editor Virginia Houston

- Nightigale's Vision

Nurses' Voices from the 1920s and 1930s

by (author) Barbara Keddy
designed by Janet Soley
managing editor Francis Mitchell
edited by Candida Hadley
guest editor Virginia Houston

- The Lamp Was Heavy

Nova Scotia Nurses-in-Training in the 1950s

by (author) Barbara Keddy
managing editor Francis Mitchell
edited by Brenda Connors
cover design or artwork by Bob Brooks

- The First Acadian

Charles de St Etienne de La Tour

by (author) Peter L. McCreath
compiled by Janet Soley
managing editor Francis Mitchell
guest editor Virginia Houston

- Joie de Vivre - Love of Life

Isolated Acadians celebrate their culture through traditions and folklore

edited by Jude Avery
guest editor Virginia Houston & Alexander Bridge
managing editor Francis Mitchell
designed by Janet Soley
cover design or artwork by Mary Delorey
compiled by Janet oley

- Historic Halifax Streetscapes

then and now, V.1 - Three walking tours

by (author) Barbara DeLory
photographs by Damian Lidgard & Francis Mitchell
edited by Anne Curry
cover design or artwork by Janet Soley
foreword by David Garrett

The CITADEL on Stage

British Military Theatre, Sports, and Recreation in Colonial Halifax

by (author) Alex Boutilier
edited by Joel Zemel
editor-in-chief Francis Mitchell
volume editor A.D. Boutilier

- Scapegoat, 100th Anniversary Edition

the extraordinary legal proceedings following the 1917 Halifax Explosion

edited by Joel Zemel
designed by SVP productions
managing editor Francis Mitchell
consultant editor Jeanne Howell

- My Dear Alice

War Letters 1937-1950

by (author) Clare Christie & Carol Wills
edited by Francis Mitchell
preface by John McKay

Other titles by

- From Sorrow to Strength

:a Father's Story of Loss

edited by Jude Avery
editor-in-chief Francis Mitchell
guest editor Virginia Houston

- Three Centuries of Public Art: Volume II

New, Old and Forgotten

by (author) Barbara DeLory
maps by Janet Soley
managing editor Francis Mitchell
associate editor Virginia Houston

- Nightigale's Vision

Nurses' Voices from the 1920s and 1930s

by (author) Barbara Keddy
designed by Janet Soley
managing editor Francis Mitchell
edited by Candida Hadley
guest editor Virginia Houston

- The First Acadian

Charles de St Etienne de La Tour

by (author) Peter L. McCreath
compiled by Janet Soley
managing editor Francis Mitchell
guest editor Virginia Houston

- Joie de Vivre - Love of Life

Isolated Acadians celebrate their culture through traditions and folklore

edited by Jude Avery
guest editor Virginia Houston & Alexander Bridge
managing editor Francis Mitchell
designed by Janet Soley
cover design or artwork by Mary Delorey
compiled by Janet oley

– Vignettes of Nova Scotia

native born sons and daughters, notable immigrants....

by (author) A.D. Boutilier
guest editor Virginia Houston & Roseann Boutilier
managing editor Francis G. Mitchell
cover design or artwork by New World Publishing

Le Loutre A Conversation with Abbé Jean-Louis Le Loutre

A Conversation with Abbé Jean-Louis Le Loutre

managing editor Francis G. Mitchell
by (artist) Janet Soley
guest editor Virginia Houston
by (author) Peter L. McCreath

– 'TOGO' to the Rescue!

... a Halifax Explosion story.

by (author) Laura King
illustrated by Hannah Aubrecht
edited by Francis G. Mitchell
guest editor Virginia Houston
by (artist) Janet Soley

The Forgotten Acadians

... a story of discovery (UPDATED EDITION)

by (author) Jude Avery
edited by Francis G. Mitchell
guest editor Virginia Houston
cover design or artwork by Janet Soley

– Capturing Crime

drawings by Carol Taylor
compiled by Janet Soley
managing editor Francis G. Mitchell
guest editor Virginia Houston
commentaries by Greg Marquis
afterword by Roslyn Rosenfeld
preface by Connell Smith

Other titles by