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100 Amazing Facts About the Negro with Complete Proof: A Short Cut to The World History of The Negro
Classic collection of black history and trivia
First published in 1934 and revised in 1962, this book gathers journalist and historian Joel Augustus Rogers' columns from the syndicated newspaper feature titled Your History. Patterned after the look of Ripley's popular Believe It or Not the multiple vignettes in each episode recount short items from Rogers's research. The feature began in the Pittsburgh Courier in November 1934 and ran through the 1960s.
First published in 1934 and revised in 1962, this book gathers journalist and historian Joel Augustus Rogers' columns from the syndicated newspaper feature titled Your History. Patterned after the look of Ripley's popular Believe It or Not the multiple vignettes in each episode recount short items from Rogers's research. The feature began in the Pittsburgh Courier in November 1934 and ran through the 1960s.
72 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1934
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About the author
J.A. Rogers
54 books126 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads data base.
Joel Augustus Rogers was a Jamaican-American author, journalist, and historian who contributed to the history of Africa and the African diaspora, especially the history of African Americans in the United States. His research spanned the academic fields of history, sociology and anthropology. He challenged prevailing ideas about race, demonstrated the connections between civilizations, and traced African achievements. He was one of the greatest popularizers of African history in the 20th century.
Joel Augustus Rogers was a Jamaican-American author, journalist, and historian who contributed to the history of Africa and the African diaspora, especially the history of African Americans in the United States. His research spanned the academic fields of history, sociology and anthropology. He challenged prevailing ideas about race, demonstrated the connections between civilizations, and traced African achievements. He was one of the greatest popularizers of African history in the 20th century.
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December 16, 2014This book was conceived to serve a valuable function. At the same time, it seems a little… problematic. The very noble purpose of the book was to restore a sense of dignity and self-worth to black folks in the Americas whose history had been denied them and who were subject to a degrading and dehumanizing white-supremacist mythology which became the only history they knew. This restoration of dignity was to be accomplished by demonstrating the falsehood of the white-supremacist history, and revealing the facts that history had concealed about the true accomplishments of Negroes. (Interestingly enough, the author was interested in revealing that slavery as a phenomenon affected people of all races throughout history, including the indentured servitude and occasional lifelong slavery of white Irish in America).
One reason that this book is problematic is that it engages in dubious scholarship and presents controversial, speculative claims in conjunction with more readily verified historical facts in such a way that one cannot readily discern between them. This pamphlet is fundamentally a black-man’s answer to Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and it engages in some of the same tactics of selecting “amazing” facts regardless of authenticity. This is not to disparage the author’s sincerity, but it seems that his lifelong research suffered from the same problem that plagues many social-scientists (and other scholars): confirmation bias. He was quite ready to accept any claim that would support his thesis, and reject criticism of such claims.
Was Beethoven a Negro? (I have no objection if it's true, but right now I'm just not sure. Where does the complete proof come from, and are white scholars really guilty of whitewashing his ancestry?)
To say what I am saying certainly opens up the critic to accusations of ignorance, defensiveness, and racism, because it undermines an effort to establish a comforting and empowering new mythology. But that is not my intent. I am sure that native Africans and their descendants have accomplished many things, and I accept that the white dominant mythology is flawed and deserves to be challenged and criticized. However, the unfortunate fact is, with much of the history of Africans having been obliterated, there will always remain a lot that is unknown (as is always the case in history). In addition, I think the 21st century’s needs would be better served by an African and Afro-American history that has been more thoroughly subjected to criticism and stricter standards of verification before claiming “facts” that are supported by “complete proof.” So this book has become rather outmoded (as one would likely guess just from hearing the title).
Of course, a big part of the challenge is defining what a “negro” is. I mean, I guess I can call it fair play that the author has decided to turn the white racists' own definitions around. Since American racists would have called anyone with “negroid” features, or dark complexion, of even some small percentage of African ancestry a “negro,” then it’s understandable that someone who regards himself as a part of the negro culture would also group together all the great men and women under such a broad definition as a part of his or her historical legacy. But then again, we've moved forward to a time when I think we have to recognize that ethnicity is much more complex than this black and white, or Caucasoid-Negroid-Mongoloid broad categorization, so a pan-Negroid nationalist identification kind of plays into and accepts racist premises.
In any case, to this author, all ancient Egyptians are Negroes, most of the major players of the bible are Negroes, many Persians, Indians, Chinese, Spaniards of Moorish or partial-Moorish descent are Negroes, thus Beethoven and Hayden are Negroes, or at least “dark Mulattoes,” all of the early cave painters of Europe were Negroes, Seminole Indians who warred against whites in the south, because some Seminoles intermarried with Africans, were Negroes, etc. And you know what… I don’t know… some of these claims may well be fair and true. But claims of ancestry that are not actually verifiable, or that are controversial and contested tend to muddle up the question. And some claims, at least by today’s scholarship, are regarded as false. E.g., claiming that black African explorers and colonists migrated to the Americas around 500 A.D., and perhaps several times between then and Columbus’s arrival, is just not supportable. The claim that the Olmecs were Negroes of African ancestry is not supportable, except in the sense that one could claim that all humans are Negroes because we have African ancestors going back several tens-of-thousands of years.
Several of the things that Rogers puts forward as facts have come to be strongly embraced by black nationalists such as Wallace D. Fard Muhammad and Elijah Muhammed's Nation of Islam, its descendants Fruit of Islam and the Five Percenters (Nation of Gods and Earths), and it also has its legacy in the Rastafari movement (author Rogers, a Jamaican, was present at the coronation of Haile Selassie I, and he obviously has a strong respect and regard for Ethiopian culture), with the related black Nazirites. And thus, I would say unfortunately, black-nationalist pride has become heavily entangled in mythology which is semi-historical-semi-speculative. So, okay, true, probably all nationalist movements were built on similarly mythical foundations. But somehow, for an incurable skeptic like me, it seems desirable for a movement to transcend the need for fictions and illusions to sustain one’s pride. More importantly, one hopes that it doesn't have to lead to greater extremes of fictionalization, such as NOI's ideas that 6,600 years ago the black scientist Yakub invented a race of white devils, created through the science of “grafting.” I don’t think J.A. Rogers would ever have intended his mostly scholarly and completely sincere research efforts to contribute to the development of such isolating and superstitious views.
Then again, I didn't have to participate in a struggle to overcome slavery and racist oppression, so I’m sure my opinions may be disregarded on this matter.
One reason that this book is problematic is that it engages in dubious scholarship and presents controversial, speculative claims in conjunction with more readily verified historical facts in such a way that one cannot readily discern between them. This pamphlet is fundamentally a black-man’s answer to Ripley’s Believe it or Not, and it engages in some of the same tactics of selecting “amazing” facts regardless of authenticity. This is not to disparage the author’s sincerity, but it seems that his lifelong research suffered from the same problem that plagues many social-scientists (and other scholars): confirmation bias. He was quite ready to accept any claim that would support his thesis, and reject criticism of such claims.
Was Beethoven a Negro? (I have no objection if it's true, but right now I'm just not sure. Where does the complete proof come from, and are white scholars really guilty of whitewashing his ancestry?)
To say what I am saying certainly opens up the critic to accusations of ignorance, defensiveness, and racism, because it undermines an effort to establish a comforting and empowering new mythology. But that is not my intent. I am sure that native Africans and their descendants have accomplished many things, and I accept that the white dominant mythology is flawed and deserves to be challenged and criticized. However, the unfortunate fact is, with much of the history of Africans having been obliterated, there will always remain a lot that is unknown (as is always the case in history). In addition, I think the 21st century’s needs would be better served by an African and Afro-American history that has been more thoroughly subjected to criticism and stricter standards of verification before claiming “facts” that are supported by “complete proof.” So this book has become rather outmoded (as one would likely guess just from hearing the title).
Of course, a big part of the challenge is defining what a “negro” is. I mean, I guess I can call it fair play that the author has decided to turn the white racists' own definitions around. Since American racists would have called anyone with “negroid” features, or dark complexion, of even some small percentage of African ancestry a “negro,” then it’s understandable that someone who regards himself as a part of the negro culture would also group together all the great men and women under such a broad definition as a part of his or her historical legacy. But then again, we've moved forward to a time when I think we have to recognize that ethnicity is much more complex than this black and white, or Caucasoid-Negroid-Mongoloid broad categorization, so a pan-Negroid nationalist identification kind of plays into and accepts racist premises.
In any case, to this author, all ancient Egyptians are Negroes, most of the major players of the bible are Negroes, many Persians, Indians, Chinese, Spaniards of Moorish or partial-Moorish descent are Negroes, thus Beethoven and Hayden are Negroes, or at least “dark Mulattoes,” all of the early cave painters of Europe were Negroes, Seminole Indians who warred against whites in the south, because some Seminoles intermarried with Africans, were Negroes, etc. And you know what… I don’t know… some of these claims may well be fair and true. But claims of ancestry that are not actually verifiable, or that are controversial and contested tend to muddle up the question. And some claims, at least by today’s scholarship, are regarded as false. E.g., claiming that black African explorers and colonists migrated to the Americas around 500 A.D., and perhaps several times between then and Columbus’s arrival, is just not supportable. The claim that the Olmecs were Negroes of African ancestry is not supportable, except in the sense that one could claim that all humans are Negroes because we have African ancestors going back several tens-of-thousands of years.
Several of the things that Rogers puts forward as facts have come to be strongly embraced by black nationalists such as Wallace D. Fard Muhammad and Elijah Muhammed's Nation of Islam, its descendants Fruit of Islam and the Five Percenters (Nation of Gods and Earths), and it also has its legacy in the Rastafari movement (author Rogers, a Jamaican, was present at the coronation of Haile Selassie I, and he obviously has a strong respect and regard for Ethiopian culture), with the related black Nazirites. And thus, I would say unfortunately, black-nationalist pride has become heavily entangled in mythology which is semi-historical-semi-speculative. So, okay, true, probably all nationalist movements were built on similarly mythical foundations. But somehow, for an incurable skeptic like me, it seems desirable for a movement to transcend the need for fictions and illusions to sustain one’s pride. More importantly, one hopes that it doesn't have to lead to greater extremes of fictionalization, such as NOI's ideas that 6,600 years ago the black scientist Yakub invented a race of white devils, created through the science of “grafting.” I don’t think J.A. Rogers would ever have intended his mostly scholarly and completely sincere research efforts to contribute to the development of such isolating and superstitious views.
Then again, I didn't have to participate in a struggle to overcome slavery and racist oppression, so I’m sure my opinions may be disregarded on this matter.
May 16, 2012
J. A. Rogers also wrote a set called, Sex and Race, Five Negro Presidents and From Man to Superman. He self-published becasue no exiting publisher would publish him. He traveled to do his own research and was focused on unearthing historical facts about Negros, Blacks, African Americans. His use of a designation was based upon his times. The books are eminently important to providing an insight into Black History which is so often ignored.
January 1, 2022
Interesting book. Definitely learned alot. There were a few "facts" that I'm taking with a grain a salt.
February 21, 2017
I remember reading this in my early twenties, and being fascinated by the wealth of information. Note that there are several editing issues, but considering the fact that the author compiled and published the book on his own time and money back in the 1930's, he gets a pass.
December 8, 2012
I really liked this. Or rather, I liked J.A. Rogers' insistent energy to be believed in this tiny book. Rogers lists all sorts of African accomplishments and deeds and categorizes them in lists such as Ancient Civilizations, Sex, Religion, Rulers, Slavery, etc. A lot of this information is Google-able, just not included in your typical mainstream lesson. And apparently Rogers traveled all over Europe to gather this info from different museums and libraries, so I'll definitely want to check out his other works.
April 20, 2023
Racism drives out racism, just as one nail drives out another, seems to be the theme of this book. Unfortunately, this just leaves racism of a different alloy. But it is an interesting read nevertheless.
August 26, 2010
This book is a very short informational text that list contributions that people of color have done (inventions, religion, writings, ruler-ships, etc). It also details where one could research and find the evidence of each listing in another source. I really like this book for quick references, projects or writing topic selections,and for it's great pictures.
December 5, 2016
Researched his claim about Persia inhabited by dark-skinned people before the Persians conquered them. A Persian history site verified his facts. Hope to go back and review the African kings depicted in ancient European artwork.
April 1, 2020
There are multiple states of experience in the communities of Americana. Most probably due to extractive policies of colonial enterprise. Shout out my two spirit peoples and their struggles. As I read through How Nations Fail, I have focused more on institutional practices, and the will of the state to exist; how they validate state undertakings, promote innovation, and how those institutions change. My search for meaning in blackness then, is a tale of my temporal essence, socially, and how I experience myself through these institutions historical impact. Shout out Fred Moten. I should get into Nietzche too, I believe he has something to say on the state existing as God, of course Foucault, of course. Yeah Morten and Nietzche are Aprils philosophy focus.
I go through this book every now and then to make sure I am not crazy for believing in the struggle for Negro folk of America. It does seem as if we(USA! USA!) are in the best position, globally to affect the diaspora, and we do. Good enough for the view of the diaspora to come into contention. Identities are replaced with self asserted, performative sociality with the state as a vehicle for the people to innovate, grow wealth, and support citizens through inclusive institutions. Very trans-techno-cyberpunk-without the cyber parts. Morphological freedom of thought and self categorization. A cluster fuck for the institutions of race and gender. I am skeptical, but I think this to be a good path.
From a culture grounded in the oral traditions, we are essentially given to time. What we have here then is a remembrance of time. When racialism about the Ne-gros/groid/groits representation was as that in the movie Suburbicon. (Easily my favorite children in a movie to date. They never folded) Thus, when racial tensions arise to become a distraction from, or scapegoat for deep issues in Americana culture, and the lineage of anti-blackness is one that has pushed Negros to seeing school or having good credit as white shit, J.A. Rogers reminds us, yes this shit is fucked up, but Negros have always been great.
My favorites of today:
8. Was Beethoven black? I am not convinced, but Rogers cites relevant sources on the topic. We also get this decades later. https://beethovenwasafrican.bandcamp......... An ML generated rendition of Beethoven that provides African polyrhythmics for his piano sonatas. I am here for it.
41. Poor white people would be forced to marry enslaved Africans because of a Maryland law(1664) that stated marriage to a slave meant you served that slave's master. The law also sured up the ambiguity of mixed-race children, and baptisted slaves. A follow up to this law is one preventing slave owners from forcing white woman to marry male slaves(1681). Exposing deep roots for gendered white/ black tension. https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/...
50. The psalms of the bible may be in the lineage of those in writing of the Egyptian, Akehenaten. Nice to have this reinforced by a podcast I listen to on the history of philosophy. From the series on Africana, https://historyofphilosophy.net/egypt
I will keep reading this book as I grow through life, 5 out of 5
I go through this book every now and then to make sure I am not crazy for believing in the struggle for Negro folk of America. It does seem as if we(USA! USA!) are in the best position, globally to affect the diaspora, and we do. Good enough for the view of the diaspora to come into contention. Identities are replaced with self asserted, performative sociality with the state as a vehicle for the people to innovate, grow wealth, and support citizens through inclusive institutions. Very trans-techno-cyberpunk-without the cyber parts. Morphological freedom of thought and self categorization. A cluster fuck for the institutions of race and gender. I am skeptical, but I think this to be a good path.
From a culture grounded in the oral traditions, we are essentially given to time. What we have here then is a remembrance of time. When racialism about the Ne-gros/groid/groits representation was as that in the movie Suburbicon. (Easily my favorite children in a movie to date. They never folded) Thus, when racial tensions arise to become a distraction from, or scapegoat for deep issues in Americana culture, and the lineage of anti-blackness is one that has pushed Negros to seeing school or having good credit as white shit, J.A. Rogers reminds us, yes this shit is fucked up, but Negros have always been great.
My favorites of today:
8. Was Beethoven black? I am not convinced, but Rogers cites relevant sources on the topic. We also get this decades later. https://beethovenwasafrican.bandcamp......... An ML generated rendition of Beethoven that provides African polyrhythmics for his piano sonatas. I am here for it.
41. Poor white people would be forced to marry enslaved Africans because of a Maryland law(1664) that stated marriage to a slave meant you served that slave's master. The law also sured up the ambiguity of mixed-race children, and baptisted slaves. A follow up to this law is one preventing slave owners from forcing white woman to marry male slaves(1681). Exposing deep roots for gendered white/ black tension. https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/speccol/...
50. The psalms of the bible may be in the lineage of those in writing of the Egyptian, Akehenaten. Nice to have this reinforced by a podcast I listen to on the history of philosophy. From the series on Africana, https://historyofphilosophy.net/egypt
I will keep reading this book as I grow through life, 5 out of 5
June 13, 2021
#64 - "In Virginia, White servitude was for a limited period, but was sometimes extended to life. In the West Indies, particularly in the case of the Irish it was for life. White people were sold in the United States up to 1826, for fifty years after signing the Declaration of Independence. Andrew Johnson, President of the United States, was a runaway, and was advertised for in the newspapers."
July 23, 2021
More like a pamphlet than an actual book (it's only 72 pages), but an interesting read. A list of 100 facts, followed by the proof for each fact. I would have preferred they be listed together, it would have made for an easier read, this way you have to keep flipping back and forth. If you're interested in the history of blacks, it's definitely worth reading.
May 22, 2022
The Amazing Negroes
This book is filled with historical facts about the contributions and attained status of not only American Negroes, but many other persons throughout the world having African or Moor blood. The book is short, but packed with mind challenging information. I highly recommended reading it.
WLM of S.C.
This book is filled with historical facts about the contributions and attained status of not only American Negroes, but many other persons throughout the world having African or Moor blood. The book is short, but packed with mind challenging information. I highly recommended reading it.
WLM of S.C.
October 2, 2025
I really liked reading this book, especially because I really enjoy history. The Amazing courage Blacks had in times that they were slaves and also how educated some Blacks became. It was hard to read some of this history due to the brutality they suffered.
May 28, 2017
Emac
Great source of information. Very eye opening. Should be read by all. Would change the thought of those who wish to grow.
Great source of information. Very eye opening. Should be read by all. Would change the thought of those who wish to grow.
November 24, 2017
Great book to read if you want to learn real facts that are hidden from us.
January 6, 2019
Interesting
February 21, 2019
Great source of real black history.
November 23, 2019
Very Informative
Very informative book, it provided confirmation for discoveries from my own research and more, and it includes sources for further study.
Very informative book, it provided confirmation for discoveries from my own research and more, and it includes sources for further study.
January 28, 2020
I'm always skeptical if the reader can portray the meaning. Good job with this one. Very visual
October 11, 2020
Wow what a mind blower. Good facts and lots of great information. Timeline is awesome. A great read and very educational. Glad I got it
Read
November 28, 2020a co-worker lent me this to read. i learned some things but since it's structured like a typical 100 facts books, i really don't feel like i can adequately rate it.
September 18, 2021
A book that should be use in school to teach OURstory. Thanks to my ancestor J.A. Rogers for all your knowledge and research. R.I.P. King Rogers
October 11, 2021
A great compilation of African-American heroes that you've never read about nor heard of.
Read
October 17, 2021After reading this book, I desired to read more by this author. Although it was brief, the insights given were remarkable. The scholarship shown was evident.
December 15, 2024
Comprehensive overview of the nasty chapter of slavery in America.
May 30, 2025
The hidden gems of history that need to be on full display.
June 10, 2025
number 7 may surprise you
May 8, 2018
Interesting
I am always intrigued to learn or discover new information that I did not know before. I will read it again.
I am always intrigued to learn or discover new information that I did not know before. I will read it again.
July 31, 2016
I can only say I learned so much, things that I had heard were proven and disproven for me in reading this book. I love the fact that proof is given. I also think for the safe of history every African American person needs to read this.....especially our children.
August 23, 2010
Gotta love J.A. Rogers. A short and sweet compilation of historical facts w/proof. A must have for every library, especially those frequented by children!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews