Hubert Henry Harrison: The Black Socrates

by John G. Jackson

Commonly referred to as the Black Socrates, Hubert Henry Harrison’s wit and excellence in academia is yet to be rivaled by his peers, both Black and White. Staunchly ethnocentric, Harrison argued that he would rather remain Black and go to hell than enter the kingdom of God… there would be a heat problem, but in the meantime one would get used to it and may perhaps enjoy the place… Known also as the Black atheist he often infuriated people in the religious communities.

7 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1987

About the author

John Glover Jackson (April 1, 1907 – October 13, 1993) was an educator, lecturer, author, and man of principle. He was born on April 1, 1907, into a family of Methodists. In old age, he averred he had been an atheist since he became old enough to think. The family minister once asked him when he was small, "Who made you?" After some thought he replied from his own realization, "I don't know."

He lived for nearly fifty years in New York City, lecturing at the "Ingersoll Forum" of the American Association for the Advancement of Atheism (1930–1955). During a parallel period he wrote articles for the Truth Seeker magazine. From 1932 to 1972 he was a writer and associate of the Rationalist Press Association in London, England. A pioneer in the field of African and Afro-American studies, he taught such courses from 1971 to 1980 at Rutgers University, New York University, and in Illinois.

Reviews

[Born Uhuru · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short introductory pamphlet about an African intellectual that is almost written out of the history books. I would suggest picking up anything that speaks on Hubert Harrison. I almost believe that he is the inspiration for Tod Clifton in Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man.”